In the spring of 2021, WETA launched its Zero-Emission Study to inform development of a plan to transition ferry operations on San Francisco Bay to zero-emission vessels. The Study reached an important milestone in Spring 2023 with completion of the Blueprint for Zero Emission Vessel Transition (Blueprint). The effort was supported by a grant funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC). The Blueprint emphasizes use of electric propulsion systems and resolving the technical and regulatory barriers to implementation. The Blueprint also outlines the actions and milestones needed for implementation of a zero-emission fleet and related electric charging and/or zero emission infrastructure. The Blueprint is available at the link provided below.
The questions the study is structured to answer include:
- How much charging infrastructure do we need?
- Where will it come from?
- When do we need it?
- How much will it cost?
- How do we pay for it?
Study Timeline
The Study is proceeding under two separate but parallel tracks. One track is focused on vessels and the other on shoreside infrastructure. The separate work efforts intersect at carefully chosen milestones to update and inform each team, ensuring consistency with assumptions, next steps, and conclusions.
The project tasks align with three main implementation stages:
- Stage 1 — Baselining: Creating a baseline understanding based on data collection to develop contextual settings for vessels, route profiles, shoreside infrastructure and utilities.
- Stage 2 — Optioneering: Develop vessel and infrastructure solutions with a subsequent opportunity and constraint assessment of each. This stage will identify optimal technical solutions and specifications that will be carried on for further study.
- Stage 3 — Blueprint & Strategy Development: Lay out an actionable path to progress to procurement, design and delivery of zero-emissions ferry service.
Implementation of zero emissions on San Francisco Bay Ferry’s fleet will be phased. The images below represent the anticipated phasing.
