ABB and HDF Energy have signed a joint-development agreement (JDA) to develop a high-power fuel cell unit for marine applications.
Enabling megawatt-scale hydrogen fuel cells, the project anticipates installations on board several vessel types, including large seagoing vessels such as container feeder ships and liquefied hydrogen carriers. The agreement builds on an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ABB and HDF Energy in 2020, envisaging the collaboration.
Foreseeing pilot installations in 2028–2029 and serial production from 2030, the agreement initiates a significant step forward for developing fuel cells as a commercially viable option to support maritime decarbonisation. The collaboration combines ABB’s system integration experience with HDF’s capabilities in designing and producing large fuel cell units. France-based HDF will provide the fuel cell technology, while ABB will supply power converters, power management, and electrical and control integration, with the two parties collaborating on specifications, conceptual design, and commercial opportunities.
The high-power fuel cell unit will enable reduction of maritime emissions by facilitating the construction of large hydrogen-electric vessels and allowing diesel auxiliary gensets to be replaced with hydrogen fuel cell units on board existing ships. Where the fuel cells use a carbon-neutral fuel such as green hydrogen, the decarbonisation impact will be particularly significant.
ABB’s Onboard DC Grid power system will ensure the unit can be integrated with other power sources and subsystems such as battery energy storage, where the fuel cells will maximise the operational range and flexibility of the hybrid power system. The unit has the potential to accelerate marine electrification as an auxiliary power source for shore-power and -charging infrastructure in ports, supporting peak power demands when grid capacity is limited.
Hanane El Hamraoui, CEO HDF Energy, 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.”
Rune Braastad, President, ABB Marine and Ports division, added: “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 decarbonization, and this new agreement with HDF reflects another important step forward.”
Image: Concept illustration of a large vessel powered by fuel cells (credit: ABB)
