July 25, 2021 By John Konrad
Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego research vessel Robert Gordon Sproul
Scripps Gets $35M From California To Build A Hydrogen-Powered Research Vessel
SNIPPET:
“Scripps has guided countless scientific projects aboard the
R/V Robert Gordon Sproul” said California Senator Tempore Toni G. Atkins. “After a four-decade run, it is high time Scripps built a new research vessel that can keep up with the high-caliber work they continue to churn out, and help our state navigate the troubled waters of sea-level rise and our evolving climate.”
The proposed 125-foot vessel will take three years to design, build, and commission, and replace the
Research Vessel Robert Gordon Sproul, which has served 40 years of service. This new vessel will continue the university’s educational mission to train the next generation of scientists.
“With 840 miles of coastline, it is important for California to manage its access to the vast resources of the Pacific Ocean,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla.
The new vessel will feature an innovative hybrid propulsion system that integrates hydrogen fuel cells alongside a conventional diesel-electric power plant, enabling zero-emission operations. The design is scaled so the ship will operate 75 percent of its missions entirely using a non-fossil fuel—hydrogen—with only pure water and electricity as reaction products. For longer missions, extra power will be provided by clean-running diesel generators. The vessel represents a major step in advancing California’s pledge to reduce global climate risk while transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy.
“Our vision is to build an oceanographic research vessel that can be
powered independently from 🦕 fossil fuels , and be free from the criteria pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Bruce Appelgate, associate director and head of ship operations at Scripps Oceanography.
Full article:
https://gcaptain.com/scripps-hydrogen-research-vessel/