U.S. government funds research into hydrogen fuel cell reefer unit

The U.S. Maritime Administration is trying to find maritime applications for zero emission hydrogen fuel cells, which have the potential to provide cleaner air and reduce costs for shippers.    Field trials of a prototype hydrogen fuel cell unit to power refrigerated containers and eliminate their emissions in maritime trade are underway thanks to an $815,000 federal grant, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced Friday.
   Under the pilot project, a container transported by Young Brothers between the Port of Honolulu and West Coast ports will have the traditional diesel generator on its refrigerating unit replaced with a hydrogen fuel cell.
   Officials said the technology has the potential to provide cleaner air and reduce costs for shippers.
   The study is part of ongoing technical assistance by MARAD to the ocean shipping industry to help develop fuel cells for marine applications. Work is also underway to use fuel cells to provide auxiliary power for vessels at berth.
   During the six-month project, performance data will be recorded to determine the environmental, energy and cost savings from the hydrogen fuel cell unit. Sandia National Laboratories will analyze the data to develop a business case for using hydrogen fuel cells for reefer boxes on vessels and in ports.
   MARAD and the Department of Energy are co-funding the demonstration project.
   Meanwhile, MARAD has published the fourth edition of a guide on smokestack scrubbers as an aid to vessel operators seeking to comply with new sulfur emission standards. The document provides ship owners and operators the latest information on exhaust gas cleaning systems, including life-cycle analysis of various types of technology for different vessels, as well as operational and maintenance advice.