Zero Emission Industries
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy, Hydrogen technology |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Joe Pratt |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California |
| Website | www |
Zero Emission Industries, Inc. (ZEI) is an American hydrogen technology company founded in 2018 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Previously known as Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine, ZEI designs and manufactures hydrogen fuel cell power systems and hydrogen refueling solutions with a focus on maritime applications.[1][2]
ZEI is best known for designing the hydrogen system onboard the Sea Change (previously known as the Water-Go-Round), the first commercial hydrogen fuel cell ferry in the United States.[3][4][5]
History
[edit]In 2016, Joe Pratt, a mechanical engineer at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, CA, helped lead a feasibility study to see if a zero-emission hydrogen charter ferry could be built.[6] After working with two dozen regulatory agencies and a dozen private companies for two years, Pratt and his colleagues at Sandia concluded that it was possible.[6]
In 2017, Pratt co-authored a study examining if hydrogen fuel cell technology could be used in a wide range of maritime vessels, including giant container ships, fishing trawlers, and passenger boats. The study titled “Practical Application Limits of Fuel Cells and Batteries for Zero Emission Vessels” identified hydrogen fuel cells to be the most capable zero emission power source especially for low-power, long duration missions. [7]
Pratt left Sandia in 2018 to start what is now Zero Emission Industries.[8] Known at the time as Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine, ZEI and a team of industry partners received a $3 million grant from the California Air Resources Board to build the first hydrogen fuel cell passenger ferry in the United States.[9]
The vessel, named the Water-Go-Round, was developed as a platform for proving the viability of zero emission hydrogen power as a climate-friendly maritime shipping fuel.[10] ZEI collaborated with partners such as BAE Systems, Hydrogenics, and Hexagon Composites on the design of the Water-Go-Round.[11][12]
In 2019, SW/TCH Maritime purchased the Water-Go-Round from Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine.[13]
In 2020, the Water-Go-Round was rebranded to the Sea Change.[14]
In 2021, Zero Emission Industries received a $2 million grant from the California Energy Commission to design, build, and test a first-of-its-kind hydrogen fuel cell powered harbor craft.[2][15]
Work
[edit]Zero Emission Industries developed the hydrogen and fuel cell power systems onboard the 70-foot Sea Change catamaran ferry and obtained regulatory approvals of all hydrogen-related aspects onboard.[16] The vessel utilizes ZEI’s patented hydrogen fueling system which allows it to be fueled directly from a hydrogen truck.[17][18] The hydrogen and power includes 360kW of fuel cells from Cummins and 242 kg of hydrogen storage tanks from Hexagon Purus, and a 600kW electric propulsion system from BAE Systems which includes 100kWh of lithium-ion battery storage from XALT.[16] [19]
ZEI is also developing a hydrogen fuel cell powered harbor craft.[15] Instead of using a combustion engine, the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain will use automotive-style fuel cell technology.[20] The boat will use ZEI’s man portable systems for marine vessel fueling, using hydrogen from retail hydrogen stations in California.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Crowley Invests in H2 Propulsion Startup ZEI". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c "SoCalGas to Provide Funding For Testing of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology for Marine Vessels". NBC Los Angeles. City News Service. April 27, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Wolfrom, Jessica (April 21, 2023). "New hydrogen ferry is a 'Sea Change' for San Francisco Bay". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Aldax, Mike (March 20, 2023). "'Sea Change,' world's first commercial hydrogen-powered ferry, arrives in San Francisco - Richmond Standard". Richmond Standard. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Duggan, Tara (March 13, 2023). "First zero-emissions fuel cell ferry in the U.S. arrives in San Francisco". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ a b Baldassari, Erin (June 25, 2018). "Nation's first hydrogen fuel-cell ferry to be built in Bay Area". The Mercury News. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Minnehan, John J.; Pratt, Joseph W. (November 2017). Practical Application Limits of Fuel Cells and Batteries for Zero Emission Vessels (PDF) (Report). Sandia National Laboratories. SAND2017-12665.
- ^ Baldassari, Erin (June 30, 2018). "Hydrogen fuel-cell tech takes to the water". The Bulletin. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Ahmed, Amel (June 26, 2018). "Zero-Emissions Ferry Coming to Bay Waters". KQED. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Hersher, Rebecca (July 16, 2019). "The Dawn Of Low-Carbon Shipping". NPR.
- ^ "GGZEM Awarded USD 3 Million Grant To Build First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel In The US". June 26, 2018.
- ^ "BAE Systems Provides First Zero-Emission Fuel Cell Propulsion System for U.S. Vessel". Seapower. December 1, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Geuss, Megan (June 12, 2019). "Group to fund and operate first hydrogen fuel ferry fleet in the US". Ars Technica. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "North America's first commercial hydrogen fuel cell, zero-emission e-ferry". www.workboat.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ a b Blenkey, Nick (April 28, 2021). "ZEI's hydrogen-powered craft project gets $2 million grant". Marine Log. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ a b "Sea Change Completes US' First Hydrogen Refueling". MarineLink. November 30, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ US20230235855A1, Pratt, Joseph; Narvaez, Adrian & Terlip, Daniel, "Portable fueling system", issued 2023-07-27
- ^ Blenkey, Nick (November 30, 2021). "Sea Change ferry completes landmark hydrogen fueling". Marine Log. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ "Hydrogen-powered Sea Change ferry to begin service". Riviera. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ Glasgow, Lindsey. "Zero Emission Industries Leads Project to Develop Zero Emissions Solution for Small Commercial Vessels – The Log". Retrieved January 9, 2024.