New York solicits proposals for hydrogen transport vessel

As part of a solicitation, New York State is offering to provide US$3.9M to support the construction or retrofit of a vessel to transport clean hydrogen on the state’s waterways.

Under the solicitation, issued 9 July by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), teams of shipbuilders, ship designers and operators would develop proposals to build or retrofit vessels that can deliver a minimum of 20,000 kg of clean hydrogen per shipment with a minimum delivery distance of 100 nautical miles. NYSERDA said proposals will be accepted from eligible project teams composed of maritime or naval architects, shipyards and vessel operators in New York State. To qualify, these entities must partner with a clean hydrogen fuel supplier. The proposed ship or vessel would not have to be powered by hydrogen.

NYSERDA said it prefers teams with previous experience designing, building and operating vessels that transport clean hydrogen or alternative fuels, or that are familiar with state waterways and marine ports. Additionally, a minimum of an at least 50% cost-share is required from non-NYSERDA funding sources.

Proposals are due 1 October 2025.

“Investing in innovative ways to scale the delivery of clean hydrogen to where it is needed is an essential step to ensuring this emerging fuel can contribute to New York State’s clean energy transition,” said NYSERDA president and chief executive, Doreen M Harris.

This project is part of the state’s ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 using clean energy sources.