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There are excellent offshore wind resources in the ocean off the west coast of Taiwan, and renewable offshore wind power has been actively developed in recent years. This study intends to establish a cost-effectiveness assessment model to compare the pollutant emissions and cost benefits of traditional fossil fuel and fuel cells used as the propulsion force of working vessels in Taiwan's offshore wind farms. According to MARPOL, vessels should use very-low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) with sulfur content of less than 0.5 wt. %. Therefore, this study proposes two strategies: changing marine power from VLSFO to ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The emission reduction and cost benefit were analyzed in comparison with the original condition when VLSFO was used. The results show that compared with the total cost of VLSFO, the total costs of Strategy ULSD and Strategy PEMFC increase by 7.5% and 51.2%, respectively, over five years. Strategy PEMFC brings environmentally friendly benefits primarily by reducing SOx, NOx, HC, PM, and CO2 emissions by 100%, 97.4%, 91.8%, 81%, and 81.6%, respectively, as compared with VLSFO. The cost–benefit ratio (CBR) of Strategy ULSD was higher than that of Strategy PEMFC in the first three years after improvements were made, and then the trend reversed. Strategy PEMFC is suitable as an alternative marine power source for the medium- and long-term (more than three years), while Strategy ULSD is suitable as a short-term investment for less than three years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper describes the development of a hybrid Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell and its integration into a mini-train (that can carry 9–12 people). The fuel cell power system is composed of a 200 W PEMFC, four metal hydrogen-storage tanks with a low pressure, lead-acid battery group, and an effectively designed electronic energy control system. The parallel connection of fuel cells and lead-acid batteries can supply power. The mini-train runs on a track that is 18.4 cm wide and 212 m long in the open air at the National Science and Technology Museum. After two years of running, the mini train has been operating over for 2000 h and transported more than 70,000 passengers. The dynamic response of the fuel cell group can be tested. The result demonstrates that the parallel connection of lead-acid batteries and fuel cells can withstand the high temperatures and high humidity of Taiwan and supply power stably. This fuel cell power supply system can provide the same power to the mini-train as do the lead–acid batteries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]