About the New Clermont Project

Robert Fulton forever changed the face of transportation in the early days of the 19th century when he sailed the world’s first steam powered ship, the Clermont, up the Hudson River from New York to Albany.

The historic journey proved that steam power was both a viable and economical means of moving goods and people across waterways. Fulton and the Clermont’s 160-mile trip ushered in a new era of transportation and commerce.

The New Clermont Project was launched in early 2009 by a dedicated group of students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Just as Fulton sought to prove the feasibility of steam power to the world, the New Clermont Project aims to prove the viability of green, pollution-free hydrogen fuel cells as a power source.

In September 2009 the New Clermont retraced Fulton’s famous voyage from New York to Albany.  Group members fit the New Clermont with a unique engine modified to accept power from hydrogen fuel cells.

The New Clermont Project promoted public awareness of clean energy for transportation, and celebrated the rich history of New York State and the Hudson River.

Our team is made up of like-minded students with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. In the group are doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students with a broad spectrum of expertise including fuel cells, materials science, mechanical and electrical engineering, management, and marketing. The common bond is each group member’s passion about the promise of clean energy.

The New Clermont Project is a project of the Rensselaer Student Sustainability Task Force, and an affiliate of the Rensselaer Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship.