Blue economy startup ACUA Ocean recently announced a partnership with AltaSea that will include the demonstration of zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered ocean vessels at the AltaSea campus in the Port of Los Angeles.

ACUA Ocean designs and deploys autonomous vessels that can provide surveillance and data collection services to offshore industries such as offshore wind farms, undersea data cables, and pipelines. The unmanned ships can also contribute to environmental conservation initiaitves by facilitating fisheries protection and biodiversity monitoring. Because they are powered by green hydrogen, the vessels are a climate-friendly alternative to fossil fuel-powered vessels.

One of ACUA Ocean’s unmanned, zero-emissions vessels. Credit: ACUA Ocean

Hydrogen power can be a zero-emissions fuel source if it is produced at facilities powered by other renewable resources. However, currently, 95 percent of hydrogen produced in the United States is obtained through an emissions-heavy process called steam-methane reforming. Many facilities that utilize the alternative process of hydrogen electrolysis, which does not create greenhouse gas emissions itself, are still powered by electricity obtained from fossil fuels. However, “green” hydrogen, which is created at plants fueled by renewable energy, is gaining traction globally.

By using green hydrogen as fuel, ACUA Ocean’s vessels reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 99.3% compared to fossil fuel-powered ships. Last year, the Science Based Targets Initiative released emissions reduction guidance that would align the maritime sector, which is responsible for three percent of global emissions, with the international goal of limiting climate change to 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to the report, the maritime sector must reduce its emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2040.

ACUA Ocean hopes to accelerate the transition to an emissions-free maritime industry by designing renewable-powered vessels that can be produced at scale. Their design trades in the traditional shipyard construction process for a manufacturing method similar to that used in the aviation and automotive industries. ACUA Ocean is currently in its prototype testing and demonstration phase, and plans for their vessels to be commercially available by 2025.

In a press release, AltaSea President and CEO Terry Tamminen celebrated AltaSea’s partnership with ACUA Ocean.

“Our collective goal is to create a zero emission maritime economy to enable the sustainable economic development and environmental protection of our oceans, waterways and land and air, while creating new jobs, advancing equity and tackling some of the most pressing environmental challenges,” he said.