California Air Resources Board To Award Up to $1M for Hybridization of Existing Marine Vessel

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is soliciting a project for the hybridization of an existing marine vessel for an award of up to $1,000,000. This solicitation is issued under the Assembly Bill 118 (AB 118) Air Quality Improvement Program’s (AQIP), Advanced Technology Demonstration Project and is intended to fund technologies on the cusp of commercialization with the potential for significant reductions in criteria and toxic air pollutants.

Public agencies such as air districts, ports, federal, state, or local government entities or agencies with expertise implementing demonstration programs and the requisite knowledge of marine vessel operations may apply via this solicitation to become the demonstration project grantee. All work must be completed within two years post grant award. Applications are due to ARB by 28 May 2010.

In March 2006, the ARB published Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure Assessment Study for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which found harbor craft to be the third highest source of diesel particulate matter (PM) emissions contributing to cancer risk associated with port activity. The study found that more than 1.5 million people were exposed to potential cancer risk levels of greater than 10 in a million. Staff estimated that direct and secondary diesel PM from harbor craft is responsible for about 90 premature deaths per year.

In November 2007, the Board approved a regulation to significantly reduce diesel PM and NO_x from diesel-fueled engines on commercial harbor craft (CHC) vessels. At the time the regulation was approved, CHC vessels emitted 3 tons per day (tpd) of diesel PM and 70 tpd of NO_x.

The solicitation covers the use of hybrid technology to repower an existing marine vessel in California. Projects funded under this solicitation must be within three years of commercialization.

Eligible hybrid technologies are systems that reduce the emissions of diesel PM and NO_x, and can include, but are not limited to, the use of diesel-electric; fuel cell-electric; or solar-electric propulsion technology to repower an existing marine vessel.

Candidate marine vessels include, but are not limited to, ferries; tug boats; excursion vessels; crew and supply vessels; barges and dredges; and fishing vessels (commercial or charter). The hybrid technology installed in association with this project must be capable of operating in a marine environment.

Resources

• 2009-10 Grant Proposal Solicitation, Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP): Hybridization of an Existing Marine Vessel