The first commercial passenger ferry in the world to run entirely on hydrogen fuel cells was recently launched in San Francisco, CA. The ferry, called Sea Change, is beginning a six-month pilot service, operating Friday to Sunday between the historic Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf, at no cost to passengers.
The 75-passenger ferry is primarily driven by fuel cells, which combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and power electric motors. Unlike diesel engines, these fuel cells emit only a small amount of heat and water vapor. A 100-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery completes the ferry’s power system. The fuel cells will initially use conventional hydrogen, but the goal is to shift to using only “green hydrogen” — made with carbon-free electricity and water — as soon as supplies become sufficiently available in the area.
Sea Change is owned and was developed by the startup Switch Maritime. Development was funded with support from a $3 million grant from the California Air Resources Board. A group of private partners are sponsoring the ferry’s demonstration run, that includes Chevron New Energies, United Airlines, and the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District.
“California is a global leader in the fight against the climate crisis, pioneering new technologies to ramp up clean energy and cut pollution — that’s why the zero-emission Sea Change is so exciting,” California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) said in a statement. “I’m proud of our state’s role in advancing these innovations, and of our state’s public and private sector partners for bringing them to market and demonstrating their viability.”
Switch and the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) are currently working with the U.S. Coast Guard to get the vessel certified for commercial operation.
“The future of maritime is zero-emission, and this is an exciting pilot we’re eager to see deployed,” Seamus Murphy, WETA’s executive director, said.