In this case, the alternative of using hydrogen for the "Local Ferries" use case would be in class F (almost uncompetitive) and the recommended alternative is indeed electric powertrains.
due to round-trip efficiency, the running cost of green hydrogen will always be twice as expensive as just using the electricity directly for the end purpose. And where batteries are feasible, they are cheaper amortized than the equivalent hydrogen infrastructure.
I came across an article about a hydrogen ferry a month or so ago. I think the ferry was somewhere in northwestern Europe, perhaps on the Nordic peninsula.
One major problem is that, due to physics, hydrogen containers leak... a lot. The hydrogen losses from transporting and storing the hydrogen for the ferry were phenomenal. I guess it's impossible to truly seal hydrogen via a valve because it's molecule is so tiny that it can wiggle through the best valves we can make.
Leakage and hydrogen tank pressures, filling systems are why I think consumers should never own hydrogen fuel cell cars. Ever seen how many people manage to fill their gas car with diesel or vice versa? How careless people can be filling gasoline into approved 5 gallon cans? The number of people driving off from gas stations with the nozzle and hose still stuck in their cars?
And now people want to give the average driver access to hydrogen refueling apparatus? Shocking.
Even if you've never personally seen such a situation, a trip down your chosen video platform (YouTube/Facebook/Instagram/TikTok) should convince you it happens way too often.
Always a good time to refer to "The Hydrogen Ladder" (version 5.0 nowadays):
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hydrogen-ladder-version-50-mi...
In this case, the alternative of using hydrogen for the "Local Ferries" use case would be in class F (almost uncompetitive) and the recommended alternative is indeed electric powertrains.