ABB and HDF Energy have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) to co-develop a high-power, megawatt-class hydrogen fuel cell system designed for use in marine vessels.
The project targets use of the system on various vessel types, including large seagoing ships such as container feeder vessels and liquefied hydrogen carriers.
The JDA follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the two companies in 2020, which set out their intention to collaborate.
Under the new agreement, the partners envisage pilot installations of the fuel cell unit between 2028 and 2029 and plan to move to serial production from 2030.
HDF Energy, headquartered in France, will provide the fuel cell technology and will work with ABB on specifications and conceptual design, as well as on identifying commercial opportunities.
ABB will contribute power converters, power management, and electrical and control integration as part of the joint work.
According to the companies, the fuel cell unit is intended to support efforts to reduce emissions from shipping by enabling the construction of hydrogen-electric vessels and by allowing existing ships to replace diesel auxiliary generator sets with hydrogen fuel cell units.
They note that where the fuel cells use a carbon-neutral fuel such as green hydrogen, the impact on decarbonisation will be greater.
HDF Energy CEO Hanane El Hamraoui said: “We at HDF are very excited to combine our fuel cell knowledge with ABB’s marine systems integration expertise to provide a practical means of decarbonising the maritime industry.”
The companies plan to integrate the unit with ABB’s Onboard DC Grid power system so it can operate alongside other power sources and onboard subsystems, including battery energy storage.
In this configuration, the fuel cells are expected to extend the operational range and flexibility of hybrid power systems on vessels.
The unit is also intended to serve as an auxiliary power source in ports, for example within shore-power and charging infrastructure, where it could help meet peak power requirements when local grid capacity is limited.
In doing so, it would support the wider use of electrification in marine environments.
ABB’s marine and ports division president Rune Braastad said: “ABB and HDF have been collaborating for several years, making significant progress toward a viable solution for decarbonising larger vessels.
“We at ABB remain fully committed to developing technologies that accelerate maritime decarbonisation, and this new agreement with HDF reflects another important step forward.”
