If a ship is anchored waiting in line to drop off goods, as a ship operator, you’ve only got one choice — run your engines to keep the refrigeration units going. But now hydrogen fuel cell generators have proven that they can be used in place of existing diesel generators to save energy and reduce smelly diesel emissions.

In Honolulu, HI, barges sail regularly to neighboring islands and normally diesel generators provide power for their refrigerated containers while on the dock and during transport. Switching to a hydrogen fuel cell power generator not only increases energy efficiency due to the fuel cell’s power load capability, but provides up to 30% emissions reductions as well.

In partnership with the Energy Department’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) and the U.S. Maritime Administration, a hydrogen fuel cell power generator for marine applications was designed, built, and demonstrated to verify increased energy efficiency and reduced emissions.