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Air Products to power chase boats at 2024 America’s Cup
Paula Wolf//September 5, 2023//
Listen to this articleAllentown-based Air Products, through its legal entity in Spain, Carburos Metalicos, has been named the official hydrogen supplier of the 37th America’s Cup between August and October next year in Barcelona.
The world’s largest producer of hydrogen and a first-mover in energy transition projects, according to a release, Air Products will supply renewable hydrogen to power zero-emission chase boats at the international sailing competition.
Hydrogen is being used for the first time to power chase boats, which follow the AC75 race yachts.
Each challenger is required to have one hydrogen-powered chase boat.
“Air Products is proud to collaborate with the America’s Cup on this innovative project to demonstrate on a world stage how renewable hydrogen can help decarbonize nautical travel,” said Air Products’ Ivo Bols, president, Europe and Africa. “As the world’s largest hydrogen producer, Air Products has made significant investments in clean hydrogen to help spur the energy transition.”
The decision to use chase boats powered by hydrogen fuel cells supports ongoing efforts by the America’s Cup to decarbonize support activities at sea.
To support the event, Air Products has installed a mobile hydrogen refueler at the Port of Barcelona where company technicians will fuel the boats.
“When we first dreamed of bringing hydrogen-powered foiling chase boats into the America’s Cup we knew we were pushing the limits of current technology and that partnering with companies like Air Products would be necessary,” said America’s Cup CEO Grant Dalton. “With the help of the Generalitat of Catalonia, the City of Barcelona and the Port of Barcelona, we are very proud to now have an established refueling station that is capable of servicing the hydrogen chase boat fleet for the 37th America’s Cup.”
Paula Wolf is a freelance writer
