10108524Data Ashore (DASH) at the Hydrogen Boat CentreClosedLaunchpadInnovate UKThe global maritime industry relies on oil, and has a huge challenge to decarbonise. International shipping is charged with a 40% reduction by 2030, but there is also a need for change in smaller fishing vessels, ferries, and leisure boats. Worldwide, there are over 30 million boats under 18 metres in length, so the challenge, and market, is huge. Hydrogen-electric systems provide a real and practical solution to this challenge, with fast and simple refuelling, long range, and the ability to decarbonise 100% by using green hydrogen, produced locally at scale. The Hydrogen Boat Centre (HBC) has recently been launched by Pure Energy Professionals Ltd and the University of Exeter to provide high quality performance testing of hydrogen fuel cell propulsion and auxiliary systems. It aims to support boat owners, designers, builders, and equipment suppliers transition away from fossil fuel powered technology. It has been funded by an ERDF research grant, and is based at the University of Exeter's Cornwall Campus. This project facilitates the collection of real-world data from existing vessels, which can then be relayed to the test rig, to carry out performance analysis of the hydrogen propulsion system mirroring real world duty cycles and environmental conditions. The Data Ashore project will procure the necessary equipment and carry out a period of data collection from real-world vessels. Torque, RPM, fuel consumption, and motion sensors will be installed on vessels in the outlined market sector (commercial vessels up to 18m and leisure vessels of any size), to collect data reflective of their normal duty cycle. This data will then be used to carry out a period of testing at the HBC, using the existing test rig and project-specific motion table to replicate the environmental conditions recorded. System capabilities, efficiencies, and limitations will all be recorded and analysed. Real-time fuel consumption data will be analysed and directly compared to hydrogen consumption of the fuel cell system, allowing detailed economic comparisons. By bridging the gap between traditional land-based R&D and full sea-based trials, this project will allow direct comparisons to be viewed and understood by all concerned, with greatly reduced cost and risk. This will improve the rate of commercial uptake for hydrogen propulsion systems and help to hasten the decarbonisation of the sector.