GREENER solutions are a subject that Towpath Talk reports on frequently and something we like to update our readers on, as and when the opportunities arise. Hydrogen fuel cells are one of the key components in that discussion and liveaboard boater, Neil Trevithick, has supplied us with an independent review of the HyArk hydrogen cell system…
“After 12 years on the water in London, autumn means a number of things. The end of summer marks the end of all our electricity being supplied by solar panels. A theoretical 750W of solar power reduces to a trickle, perhaps 50W.
“The fridge must be turned off and turned into a cupboard. The inbuilt cold box with milk, butter etc sitting on the steel base-plate under the floor is fine as long as it stays cold outside. Battery performance dips into self-destruct mode. Gradually the nightmare of low light levels and warm, drizzly rain means two hours of our 43hp Beta diesel running just to keep the batteries healthy and the lights on. Walk along any towpath in London and there will always be boats tied up with their engines running.
“Until now; just two boats in a London region containing at least 4000 boats have the HyArk system. A hydrogen-powered fuel cell on our roof generates 200W of electricity as required to keep the batteries topped up, night and day.
“You lie in bed in the dark with the batteries being charged, no engine, no generator, no fumes, no unseen pollution. Like the best digital equipment, the installation does absolutely nothing apparent to the senses. No smell, no smoke, no sound.
“Only someone entirely reliant on solar and a knackered diesel engine will appreciate the wonder of night-time charging. Of never worrying about the batteries running down. Of the lights staying bright. Of working late at night on the plugged-in computer with no warnings of limited time left. Of having the inverter on whenever necessary. Of not constantly calculating power consumption. ‘Game changer’ is an overused phrase but apt here. I feel I can see the future. It’s ‘green’ hydrogen.
“Fully electric cars suddenly seem a red herring. A hydrogen fuel cell powering a much smaller battery, hybrid with braking generation and pure battery for small distances is a no-brainer. An electric motor on the boat, rather than any diesel at all, is suddenly within striking distance.
“No emissions, no sound – your own mini power station to travel, to power any kind of mobile life, to take you off-grid along with your integrated solar. There is no need for any ICE (internal combustion engine). Suddenly the whole world of noise and moving belts/pulleys/filters/pumps/etc is redundant.
“There are only two of these systems for boats in existence. But the hydrogen in bottles is there, the tooling for the system I have is up and running. The cost will go down once there is take-up in volume.”
