Exeter Port Authority running trials of revolutionary new hydrogen-electric workboat designed by Ecomar Propulsion.
In the last week of September, the MV Dirac was launched into Exmouth Harbour and is now in the final stages of fitting out, with the installation of the last pieces of its innovative new power system.
Photo courtesy of Ecomar Propulsion
Based on the body of a NATO combat-ready boat, insides of the MV Dirac have been radically upgraded, with power now supplied by two 250kW Ecomar Kairos motors. Fuel is provided by both 180kWh of silicon-ion batteries and a hydrogen fuel cell, considerably extending the range.
What’s more, the hydrogen comes in hand-portable BOC Genie bottles, which can be easily replaced and safely stowed onboard, so that the boat can be recharged when and where needed.
As the trial is conducted over coming months, Exeter University’s Centre for Clean Future Mobility will gather data from the vessel. The Ecomar team will continue to upgrade and modify systems as the MV Dirac enters regular service, the aim being to complete the trial with the vessel able to take on all work currently done by combustion-powered boats.
There are fewer than 50 hydrogen-powered vessels in operation around the world, and the team behind MV Dirac see the vessel as ‘the start of a revolution’ in carbon-free power on the water. That pioneering spirit is reflected in the name, taken from Nobel prize-winning physicist Paul Dirac.
Eugene Bari, CEO of Ecomar Propulsion, says: ‘We called her Dirac because we think that she represents the best of British engineering and innovation. It is fitting that she starts her working life in the south-west, where there is a centuries-old tradition of seafaring and groundbreaking innovation.’
‘We hope to be able to prove to the communities around the River Exe that the transition to clean maritime is easy and safe and above all sensible. We understand that people have reservations about range and safety but the reality is very different from perception and we hope to be able to demonstrate that with the cooperation of forward-thinking ports like Exeter, Britain can lead the world in decarbonising our waterways.
‘Ecomar aims to set up a series of discussion sessions around the River Exe over the next few months. Change requires a two-way dialogue, we want to provide answers where we can and also to see what we can learn to make things better for everyone.’
Grahame Forshaw, Harbour Master at Exeter Port Authority, adds: ‘The beauty of the hydrogen refuelling is that the port doesn’t need to install expensive equipment. We can carry the bottles to the boat and they weigh about the same as a regular barbeque bottle. We can easily charge the batteries directly from the pontoon as well so it makes the move to clean energy really easy.’
‘The harbour team are excited about working with Dirac and putting the boat through its paces. The Exe is an excellent proving ground for this type of work due to the many different and varied tidal and weather conditions that we operate in so Dirac will certainly be working hard and proving the concept of clean energy propulsion for the time she is with us.’
Professor Chris Smith, from the Centre for Future Clean Mobility, says: ‘We have worked with the Ecomar team for a number of years in projects funded by the government’s Clean Maritime Demonstrator Call, and helped them get their groundbreaking hydrogen-battery hybrid propulsion system designed and working. We’re delighted to see the fruits of all this hard work which is the boat Dirac. We will be taking data from her on the River Exe which will help us improve propulsion systems in other new clean boats.’
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