The UK’s first hydrogen-powered ferry has been spotted in Bristol’s Floating Harbour. This may not be new news but it’s the first time that I have seen the ferry, named Hydrogenesis, with my own eyes, when it was moored yesterday near the ss Great Britain.
Hydrogenesis is the result of a consortium formed between No. 7 Boat Trips, the Bristol Packet and Auriga Energy.
According to The Engineer magazine, the fuel cell on board the new boat will use hydrogen and oxygen to produce energy, with water and heat as by-products.
Auriga managing director and the designer of the fuel cell Jas Singh said he hopes insurance issues preventing such fuel-cell technology from taking off in larger boats will be overcome through demonstrating Hydrogenesis.
But despite the ferry being shortlisted for the inaugural Bristol Genius Award, and promises that it would launch earlier this summer, the project seems to have unravelled.
Can anybody shed any light on the matter?
I didn’t know that the cross-harbour ferry was hydrogen-powered. Seriously, it would be a shame if this project has floundered as it is bold and adventurous, just the kind of spirit Bristol is famous for.
hope this takes off! go Fuel Cells!
The hydrogen filling station is in the Cumberland Basin, the ferry is in the docks and they have £225K from Bristol City Council. All the pieces are in place to give Bristol (the greatest maritime city on earth) the UKs first hydrogen ferry! It has taken rather a long time but I’m sure that this achievement will have been worth the wait but please hurry up and get it running before the sun hibernates for the winter.
The launch of the ferry is definitely on the horizon. The latest update on progress is due to be made at this breakfast seminar – Bristol Hydrogen Transport Breakfast (http://bit.ly/H2-Bristol) – taking place at the Create Centre on 4 Oct. The event forms part of the European-wide ‘Hydrogen Road Tour 2012′, meaning delegates will also have an opportunity to test drive (or be a passenger during a test drive in) the latest hydrogen-powered electric cars from Daimler, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota – down Cumberland Road to the Louisiana pub and back. As well as a presentation from Jas (Auriga Energy) about the Bristol Hydrogen Ferry Project, speakers from Air Products (the company supplying the London Hydrogen bus/taxi trials), Hydrogen Sweden (running the Hydrogen Road Tour), the University of the West of England (experts on the public acceptance of low carbon transport solutions) and Bristol City Council will contribute to the agenda. An early start I know, but should be worth it! If the weather is kind, there will hopefully be a chance to get a closer look at the ferry in the Cumberland Basin too…