India’s First Indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Passenger Vessel

Source: HT

Subject: Economy

Context: India launched its first fully indigenous hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger vessel into commercial service in Varanasi, marking a breakthrough in green inland water transport.

About India’s First Indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Passenger Vessel:

• What it is? A 24-metre hydrogen fuel cell-powered AC catamaran crafted for zero-emission passenger movement, ensuring clean mobility on inland waterways.

• A 24-metre hydrogen fuel cell-powered AC catamaran crafted for zero-emission passenger movement, ensuring clean mobility on inland waterways.

• Location: Namo Ghat, Varanasi — the vessel’s maiden commercial run began here along the Ganga.

• Developed by: Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), showcasing indigenous excellence in clean marine engineering.

• Key Features: Capacity: Carries 50 passengers comfortably with full air-conditioning for urban river mobility. Propulsion: Uses Low-Temperature PEM fuel cell technology enabling silent, vibration-free cruising. Emission: Emits only water, ensuring completely pollution-free navigation on the Ganga. Endurance: Can operate for around 8 hours on a single hydrogen refill, supporting daily commercial runs. Hybrid System: Integrates hydrogen fuel cells, batteries and solar panels to optimise efficiency. Speed: Cruises at ~6.5 knots, balancing energy efficiency with safe riverine operations. Hull Type: Catamaran design provides high stability, better deck space and superior seakeeping.

• Capacity: Carries 50 passengers comfortably with full air-conditioning for urban river mobility.

• Propulsion: Uses Low-Temperature PEM fuel cell technology enabling silent, vibration-free cruising.

• Emission: Emits only water, ensuring completely pollution-free navigation on the Ganga.

• Endurance: Can operate for around 8 hours on a single hydrogen refill, supporting daily commercial runs.

• Hybrid System: Integrates hydrogen fuel cells, batteries and solar panels to optimise efficiency.

• Speed: Cruises at ~6.5 knots, balancing energy efficiency with safe riverine operations.

• Hull Type: Catamaran design provides high stability, better deck space and superior seakeeping.

About Hydrogen Fuel Cell:

• What it is? An electrochemical device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, yielding only water and heat for clean, efficient power generation.

• An electrochemical device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, yielding only water and heat for clean, efficient power generation.

• How It Works? Hydrogen enters the anode, supplying the fuel for electrochemical splitting. A catalyst splits H₂ into protons (H⁺) and electrons (e⁻), initiating the energy conversion. Protons move through the PEM membrane to the cathode, maintaining the reaction flow. Electrons, unable to cross the membrane, travel via an external circuit to generate electricity. At the cathode, oxygen, protons and electrons combine to form water and release heat.

• Hydrogen enters the anode, supplying the fuel for electrochemical splitting.

• A catalyst splits H₂ into protons (H⁺) and electrons (e⁻), initiating the energy conversion.

• Protons move through the PEM membrane to the cathode, maintaining the reaction flow.

• Electrons, unable to cross the membrane, travel via an external circuit to generate electricity.

• At the cathode, oxygen, protons and electrons combine to form water and release heat.

• Features: Produces zero emissions, releasing only water as the harmless byproduct. Offers higher efficiency than combustion engines by avoiding thermal losses. Provides quiet, vibration-free operation ideal for sensitive environments. Adaptable across mobility, stationary and portable clean-power applications.

• Produces zero emissions, releasing only water as the harmless byproduct.

• Offers higher efficiency than combustion engines by avoiding thermal losses.

• Provides quiet, vibration-free operation ideal for sensitive environments.

• Adaptable across mobility, stationary and portable clean-power applications.

• Applications: Used in transportation including cars, buses, trucks, ships, drones and forklifts. Deployed in stationary systems for buildings, data centres and remote-grid power. Used in portable supply systems for defence, small devices and emergency backup.

• Used in transportation including cars, buses, trucks, ships, drones and forklifts.

• Deployed in stationary systems for buildings, data centres and remote-grid power.

• Used in portable supply systems for defence, small devices and emergency backup.