At Italy’s international Seatec trade exhibition for yachts, ships and boats, ACTA Energy won the prestigious 2010 Qualitec Technology Award (along with Volkswagen) for their new EL100 Hydrogen Generator.
The generator was coupled with a 1 Kw fuel cell that together powered an outboard boat motor. The nautical award was given for the device’s “innovation, low cost and environmental profile.”
Now, I’ve talked about ACTA Energy before as in December 2009, they had shown a hydrogen fuel cell bike at the EICMA Motor Show in Milan, Italy, which could be powered either by H2 or by pedaling.
Now, nautical hydrogen fuel cells are nothing new. Also in December 2009 I had talked about the EFOY 2000 providing onboard power for the Pogo2 yacht in a 4,800 mile race and the Pharos Marine Orcageno hydrogen diesel hybrid super-yacht being unveiled.
Over the past several years I’ve talked about hydrogen ferry boats, whale touring ships, motorboats, submarines and other seafaring craft. ACTA Energy, however, is working on low cost solutions that will bring hydrogen fuel cell technology to commercialization in the short term rather than long term.