Sustainability News
Fuel for Thought
Hydrogen fuel cells are part of the near future of marine propulsion, with some builders banking on it to replace fossil fuels.
Team NZ developing hydrogen-powered foiling chase boat
During the 37th America’s Cup, defenders Team New Zealand will not only be hosting the event once again but making a bit of history with the first-ever hydrogen-powered foiling chase boat. Working with countrymen at the engineering firm of AFCryo, a prototype is in development and concept images show a catamaran with four hydrogen tanks in each sponson (hull) with electric motors built into the foils and rudder,
Dometic expands in solar power solutions
Sweden’s Dometic Group has acquired an Australian provider of mobile power products serving Marine, RV and other industries. The consolidation drive in the equipment sector continues with today’s announcement from the Dometic Group today that it is acquiring Enerdrive a mobile power products – including solar power solutions, batteries and battery chargers – for the outdoor market, with customers across Marine, Recreational Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle industries.
Southern Wind confirms new ‘smart custom’ hybrid project
Southern Wind has announced a diesel-electric hybrid version of its new generation smart custom sailing yacht. The SW108 Hybrid project involving Nauta Design and Farr Yacht Design features a diesel electric hybrid propulsion system that combines two generators with a high voltage battery bank and electric propulsion motor.
Volvo Penta | Easy Street
Volvo Penta sees its Easy Boating initiative, in combination with its focus on sustainability, as an unbeatable platform for converting today’s first-time buyers into life-long customers. While it seems like every inboard engine manufacturer is working harder than ever these days and pushing the boundaries of what they do, perhaps none have been more energetic about it than Volvo Penta.
Biofuels Claim Biggest Greenhouse Gas Cut in California
Biofuels for combustion engines are being credited for the bulk of the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in California. Data from the California Air Resources Board suggests biodiesel and renewable diesel fuel are the biggest carbon cutting technologies from the transportation sector, edging out ethanol and exceeding the benefits of electrified cars, trucks and buses by a factor of three-to-one, claims diesel technology lobby group the Diesel Technology Forum. The data also indicates that the availability of low carbon biobased diesel fuel is expanding growing from about 16M gallons in 2011 to nearly 1Bn gallons in 2020.
Japanese engine manufacturers collaborate to develop hydrogen technology
Yanmar Power Technology Co Ltd, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd and Japan Engine Corporation (JEC) have formed a consortium to enable the joint development of hydrogen-fuelled marine engines with the goal of bringing product to market by 2025.
Watershed Innovation adds support for hydrogen fuel cell
Watershed Innovation, Correct Craft’s innovation company, added its support to Zero Emission Industries’ (ZEI) project to build a hydrogen fuel cell-powered boat. The boat’s scalable powertrain can be integrated into a variety of use cases including, but not limited to, the recreational market. Zero Emission Industries, a world-renowned expert in applying hydrogen fuel cell technology to marine applications, received a $2 Million grant from California Energy Commission to fund this project. Watershed Innovation will provide the vessel.
Toyota built an internal combustion engine that sips hydrogen, and it sounds awesome
Japanese auto giant Toyota is working on a new-age hydrogen vehicle. When the words Toyota and Hydrogen are in the same sentence, the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai comes to mind. Still, the Mirai is a hydrogen-electric car or FCEV (fuel-cell electric vehicle). It uses hydrogen fuel to convert electricity and power an onboard electric motor. This time, Toyota came up with something different.
