Maritime Partners (MP), Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), and e1 Marine have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a hydrogen-powered inland towboat for use in the United States.
Designed to tow barges along the Mississippi River and its tributaries, the Hydrogen One towboat is intended to be used in a massive 14,500-mile waterway network that stretches from the Port of New Orleans.
At 6 miles per hour, Hydrogen One will be able to travel for about four days before needing to refuel, covering approximately 560 miles. Its propulsion system will be able to generate up to 2,700 HP propulsion power, with 1,700 HP generated by the fuel cell and the remaining 1,000 from the battery. Maritime Partners, a New Orleans-based company with a fleet of more than 550 towboats, barges, and other maritime assets, will be in charge of operating the vessel.
e1 Marine’s hydrogen generator, which transforms a methanol-and-water mixture into fuel-cell grade, high-purity hydrogen, will be installed on the innovative towboat. Fuel cells will use the hydrogen produced in this process to generate electricity.
Hydrogen production on a vehicle will eliminate the difficulties associated with direct hydrogen fueling and storage. Compared to an electrolyser solution derived from fossil fuels, this approach produces no particulate matter emissions and less than 80% CO2 emissions. The energy supply chain can be carbon-neutral if methanol is derived from renewable resources.
As a bunker fuel, methanol is currently available at a large number of terminals, and it’s lightweight and portable. Instead of storing it under pressure, it can be transported to the vessel like conventional fuels.
The environmental impact of towboats, tugs, and other support vessels is increasingly being scrutinized. The main engines and generators of traditional towboats are always running, resulting in poor power utilization and increased fuel consumption. Fuel cells and batteries in an electric system can deliver just the right amount of power at precisely the right time.
After pioneering integrated power systems for various ship types and marine fuels, ABB will provide the entire electrical propulsion system for the vessel, including electric motors, transformers and the integration of fuel cells and batteries. Fuel cell and battery output will be delivered to the towboat’s subsystems using ABB’s Onboard DC GridTM power distribution system. Controlling all aspects of the overall power setup, ABB’s Power and Energy Management System (PEMSTM) will ensure high levels of reliability, as well as a long-term battery life.
“As a leading provider, lessor and financier of towboats, tank barges and other workboats, we see this groundbreaking project as a major opportunity to advance sustainability in workboat operations in the U.S. and beyond,” said Austin Sperry, COO of Maritime Partners. “For fuel cell deployment along one of the most extensive inland waterway networks in the world, commitment from a partner overseeing 550 towboats is an excellent place to start.”
Fuel cells use electrochemical reactions to convert hydrogen’s chemical energy into electricity. In order to help the shipping industry decarbonize and meet the International Maritime Organization’s targets to reduce annual emissions by 30 percent by 2025, fuel cell technology is widely considered one of the most promising solutions.
“We can make a real difference to efficiency and sustainability in the workboat sector, and have a transformative impact on air quality given that these vessels often operate close to centers of population. With this technology, we can offer U.S. shipyards, as well as state and federal agencies, significant support on their journey towards more sustainable operations,” said David Lee, Senior Account Manager, Commercial Vessels, ABB Marine & Ports.
Workboat alternative fuel development leader Maritime Partners is based in New Orleans. Leading naval architects and marine engineers Elliott Bay Design Group and e1 Marine are both experts in hydrogen generation.
