The US Navy intends to use fuel-cell technology to provide onboard power for its ships by developing a new propulsion system.

In addition the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is looking at ways to extract hydrogen from diesel fuel.

The Navy believes using diesel will be economically viable, especially considering its low costs, and the fact that the Navy already has the facilities to buy, store and transport the fuel.

ONR program officer Anthony Nickens told Fuel Cell Today: "The Navy's shipboard gas-turbine engines typically operate at 16 per cent to 18 per cent efficiency because Navy ships usually sail at low to medium speeds that don't require peak use of the power plant."

He added: "The fuel cell system that ONR is developing will be capable of between 37 per cent and 52 per cent efficiency."

Other advantages of the fuel cell technology include fewer pollutants and the ability to place engines throughout the ship instead of being located in the ship's shaft. It is hoped that this added flexibility will improve ship survivability.

Several types of fuel cell produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen over a platinum catalyst.