Hydrogen-powered ferry project gets support from NYSERDA
US-based hydrogen- and battery-powered vessel manufacturer SWITCH Maritime has secured $2 million in funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to develop and demonstrate a hydrogen fuel cell-powered ferry.
IMAGE: SWITCH Maritime’s 150-passenger hydrogen-powered ferry concept. SWITCH Maritime
The ferry will provide zero-emission transportation on New York City waterways.
The project is part of five hydrogen research and development initiatives awarded a combined $11 million in funding. These projects were selected under the Advanced Fuels and Thermal Energy Research Program, administered by NYSERDA, which supports clean fuel technologies to decarbonise industrial processes, integrate renewable energy with clean fuel production, and demonstrate clean fuel power generation systems.
“SWITCH aims to provide municipal ferry operators with viable zero-emission options to replace their aging, diesel-powered vessels. Funding from NYSERDA's Clean Hydrogen Innovation Program accelerates SWITCH’s ability to demonstrate a hydrogen-powered 150-passenger ferry for NYC waterways,” said Pace Ralli, CEO of SWITCH Maritime.
The company has not yet disclosed further details about the vessel, including its completion timeline.
SWITCH Maritime has already delivered a 75-passenger hydrogen-powered ferry in San Francisco, featuring two 300 kilowatts (kW) electric motors, powered by 360 kW of PEM fuel cells and a 100 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery system, with capacity to store 240 kg of hydrogen in gaseous form.
The vessel has been operational since the third quarter of 2024.
By Tuhin Roy
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