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Mahesh

01/03/24 08:15 AM IST

Hydrogen-powered ferry

In News
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched India’s first indigenously developed hydrogen fuel cell ferry.
Features of the vessel
  • The Hydrogen fuel cell vessel is a 24-meter-long catamaran, which can carry 50 people in its air-conditioned passenger area.
  • The accommodation area has been constructed with high-quality fiberglass reinforced plastic, similar to metro train coaches.
  • Hydrogen fuel cell vessels do not use conventional batteries as the primary storage house of electrical energy.
  • The vessels run on hydrogen fuel, which is stored in cylinders.
  • This boat has five hydrogen cylinders that can carry 40kg of hydrogen and support eight hours of operations. The vessel is also fitted with a 3-kW solar panel
  • The hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessel has zero emission, zero noise and is energy-efficient, which makes it more environment-friendly.
  • Since there are no moving parts, the ferry requires less maintenance than combustion vessels.
Working of hydrogen fuel cell
  • A hydrogen fuel cell generates electricity by utilising the chemical energy contained in hydrogen.
  • It releases only pure water, not discharging pollutants. Hydrogen is loaded into cells.
  • The energy within the hydrogen is converted into electricity and heat, which is then used to power the vessel’s propulsion mechanism.
  • In the fuel cell, the hydrogen reacts with the oxygen in the air to produce electricity.
  • Unlike batteries, hydrogen fuel cells do not require recharging. Provided uninterrupted supply of fuel and oxygen, these cells would work continuously.
Types of cell
  • This vessel uses a 50-kW PEM (proton-exchange membrane) fuel cell, with Lithium-Ion Phosphate batteries.
  • The advantage is that the cells can quickly change their output depending upon the power demand. PEM fuel cells are popular in automotive applications because they operate at a lower temperature, and are lighter and more compact.
Indigenous System
  • India has now indigenously developed hydrogen fuel cells and their related systems.
  • The vessel has been built completely by the CSL, which also developed the vessel automation system and power management system.
  • The hydrogen fuel cell system was developed by KPIT Technologies, Pune, in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Labs, under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
  • The ‘Harit Nauka’(green boat) initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways envisages a green transition of inland vessels.
  • In line with this, the ferry can be replicated in other parts of the country for urban mobility. It is also a boost to the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Significance
  • While hydrogen fuel cell technology has been under development for maritime applications, only a few countries globally have done demonstration projects.
  • This ferry, thus, has given India an early mover advantage to tap the potential of hydrogen as an emerging green fuel in the marine sector
Harit Nauka
  • In January 2024, the shipping ministry unveiled the Harit Nauka guidelines for inland vessels.
  • As per the guidelines, all states have to make efforts to use green fuels for 50 per cent of inland waterways-based passenger fleets in the next one decade, and 100 per cent by 2045.
  • This is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as per the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
  • Globally, the shipping industry is increasingly transitioning to green fuels due to environmental regulations, sustainability goals, and advancements in green fuel technologies.
  • Hydrogen and its derivatives are gaining attention for promising zero-emission fuels for the industry.
Source- Indian Express

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