World’s First Hydrogen-powered Commercial Ferry to Run on San Francisco Bay, and It’s Free to Ride
Published by Todd Bush on July 15, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial passenger ferry will start operating on San Francisco Bay as part of plans to phase out diesel-powered vessels and reduce planet-warming carbon emissions, California officials said Friday, demonstrating the ship.
>> In Other News: Researchers Move Closer to Green Hydrogen via Water Electrolysis
The 70-foot (21-meter) catamaran called the MV Sea Change will transport up to 75 passengers along the waterfront between Pier 41 and the downtown San Francisco ferry terminal starting July 19, officials said. The service will be free for six months while it’s being run as part of a pilot program.
“The implications for this are huge because this isn’t its last stop,” said Jim Wunderman, chair of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority, which runs commuter ferries across the bay. “If we can operate this successfully, there are going to be more of these vessels in our fleet and in other folks’ fleets in the United States and we think in the world.”
Sea Change can travel about 300 nautical miles and operate for 16 hours before it needs to refuel. The fuel cells produce electricity by combining oxygen and hydrogen in an electrochemical reaction that emits water as a byproduct.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Daily decarbonization data and news delivered to your inbox
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Latest issues
-
World’s First Ship With Full Carbon Capture & Storage System Ready For Pilot Testing
Inside This Issue 🚢 World’s First Ship With Full Carbon Capture & Storage System Ready For Pilot Testing 💰 DOE Invests Nearly $14 Million To Develop Carbon Conversion Pathways 🔬 DOE Invests $1...
-
Plug Closes Loan Guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy
Inside This Issue 🔋 Plug Closes Loan Guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy 🗺️ USGS Releases First-ever Map of Potential for Geologic Hydrogen in U.S. 🌎 Constellation to Acquire Calpine; Cre...
-
Plug Seals Deal with Allied Green Ammonia for 3 GW Electrolyzer
Inside This Issue 🌍 Plug Seals Monumental Deal with Allied Green Ammonia for a Mega 3 GW Electrolyzer System 💰 DOE Invests $101 Million to Establish Carbon Capture, Removal, and Conversion Test Ce...
Company Announcements
-
The Series B Funding round is co-led by Hy24 and SC Net Zero Ventures who are joined by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Enagas Emprende, Equinor Ventures, Exergon, Ezten, and MassMutal Ventures. The...
-
Orennia Completes Series C Funding Led by Decarbonization Partners
CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orennia Inc. today announced the closing of its Series C growth financing, led by Decarbonization Partners, a partnership between BlackRock and T...
-
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) today announced $45 million in federal funding for six projects to create regional cons...
-
The cost of building new renewable energy plants is now cheaper than operating existing fossil fuel plants globally and exciting opportunities exist for global decarbonization involving hydrogen S...