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The Port of San Francisco could operate a hydrogen refuelling station at Pier 54 as part of an effort to bring a zero-emissions ferry service to San Francisco Bay, the US port has said on its Facebook page in reference to an article in the San Francisco Examiner.

The station, which has an estimated cost of $5 million, would be the first of its kind in the world and could be used to refuel both vessels and cars, according to the US daily.

With all major car manufacturers expected to produce hydrogen fuel cell models within the next few years, and yet no hydrogen filling stations yet open in San Francisco, the Californian port is understood to be interested in acting as a hydrogen station landlord.

Elaine Forbes, interim executive director of the port, has provided a letter of support of the Pier 54 project for companies interested in applying to receive funding from the California Energy Commission to build a hydrogen refuelling station.

"The Port of San Francisco enthusiastically supports the creation of an intermodal hydrogen fueling station on port property. The proximity of Port property to the high population density of San Francisco would make a port-based hydrogen station valuable in many respects," Forbes is cited as saying in the letter.

Applications are due by 19th August and port officials are said to have identified Steven Brooks of Retail Energy Now and Jonathan Avila of StratosFuel as two potential applicants.

It was Tom Escher, president of Red and White Fleet - a company that operates a passenger ferry service in San Francisco, who initiated the interest in hydrogen fuel cells at the port and began looking into research being carried out by Sandia National Laboratories. After sharing his idea of a fuel cell ferry with the lab, this then led to them securing a grant from the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration to look into the feasibility of building the SF BREEZE (San Francisco Bay Renewable Energy Electric vessel with Zero Emissions).

Fifteen months of research led to the scientists concluding that it is feasible to operate a 149-passenger ferry on hydrogen-filled fuel cells at speeds of up to 35 knots, and that it can meet regulations.

The cost to build the SF BREEZE is estimated to be between $20 million and $30 million - around double the cost of a diesel-powered ferry. Joseph Pratt, SF BREEZE project manager at Sandia National Laboratories, points out, however, that there is demand for higher-priced cars using hydrogen technology and that the Toyota Mirai costs around $57,000, but can be lowered with government incentives.

Sandia has secured another grant to optimize the ferry design, which would look at slowing the speed of the ferry and increasing the passenger capacity.

Image: The San Francisco Bay Renewable Energy Electric vessel with Zero Emissions (SF BREEZE).