Sunshine Powered marine engine- Boat of the Future

by Rebecca Aldous/Sail-World on 22 Jun 2008 Jim Harrington, engineer, scientist, inventor says that the worst thing for the future of the world would be the lowering of fuel prices. Jim's mechanical creations have orbited the Sun and he has built equipment for NASA, but his heart lies closer to home, attached to the stern of a simple sailing boat.

The boat, the Jim D, holds the key to the world's future, says Jim. According to the Victoria News, what's got Harrington's heart racing is a hydrogen fuel cell-powered engine. The battery size unit combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce 1,000 watts of energy, the equivalent to more than one horsepower. This energy powers a 2.3- horsepower electric thruster, which runs twice as efficiently as its gasoline-powered counterpart.

With two spinning more than enough propulsion is produced to reach hull speed, around six to eight knots.

And the best part about it? A day of trolling costs no more than $30 in hydrogen, the planet's most plentiful chemical element.

'And the fuel can be made from sunshine,' said Ian Soutar, Harrington's research partner.

Jim D holds the title as Canada's first hydrogen fuel cell-assisted sailboat and is getting recognition from around the world. Rather than creating an expensive engine for a fuel cell, Harrington approached the project from the opposite end. He made sure the fuel cell could adapt to inexpensive products already on the market. Many of the components of the boats operating system can be bought at the local hardware or auto outlet.

Although hydrogen fuel cells would not be suitable for all forms of transportation, the cells are prefect for boats, Harrington said. The green machine's only byproducts are heat and water, both of which can be used aboard. The cell also eliminates the chance of oil spills and fumes seeping from engines.

But the best part is it's silent, Soutar said with a smile.

Hydrogen fuel can be bought for $30 per 19,000 litres, yet it can also be made in ones backyard, Harrington said. Hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis of water using solar or wind power.

The project has moved forward on trial and error basis, as there is little to no information on matching technology to the energy source. Five students from the University of Victoria are also helping shape the working model.

Harrington is spurred to make hydrogen fuel-driven machines cheaper and efficient for his grandchildren, he said.

With global warming underway its time people starting rethinking their energy sources, Harrington said - and one of the worst things that could happen to small companies developing green products is the lowering of oil prices, he added.

(The sailing boat will be on display at the Esquimalt Transport Evolution Festival which is part of the Tall Ships Victoria 2008 Festival on Victoria Island, a short ferry ride from Vancouver. For information on the Festival click http://www.esquimalt.ca/discover/festivals_events/index.htm!here, or phone +1 250 881 5946.)

For more information on the hydrogen assisted sailboat, please visit www.agoenvironmental.com