The Swedish PowerCell group has secured a follow-up order worth SEK 27m for fuel cell systems and engineering services for two additional hydrogen-electric bulk carriers for delivery to GMI Group.
The order comprises 10 Marine System 225 units, providing more than 2MW of power, with deliveries scheduled for 2027–2028. This follows an earlier order from September 2025 and expands the collaboration from two to four vessels. Across the four ships, PowerCell will supply a total of 24 Marine System 225, representing 5.4MW of installed fuel cell power.
GMI Group is developing a new generation of bulk carriers using compressed renewable hydrogen to generate electricity onboard through fuel cells. The first two vessels are 85m long, with a capacity of 4,000 dwt, and are planned for launch in 2027. They are expected to become the world’s first hydrogen-electric bulk carriers.
The two additional vessels will each be of 3,000 dwt capacity of 3,000 tons and will be built in India by Chowgule Shipyard. Each vessel will be equipped with five Marine System 225 units. Reusing the same fuel cell platform allows engineering, certification and integration experience from the first vessels to be applied directly to the subsequent deliveries.
PowerCell will provide the fuel cell systems and engineering support within its scope. eCap Marine will manage vessel-level integration and certification of the hydrogen and propulsion solution. The vessel concept has received support from the Norwegian Enova fund and the NOx Fund and forms part of the Green Shipping programme.
Richard Berkling, CEO, PowerCell Group, said: “Scaling from two vessels to four demonstrates the value of our business model. We combine an industrialised fuel cell platform with application engineering and control capability that can be applied repeatedly across a fleet. This improves delivery efficiency for the customer and expands our installed base for long-term service.”
Torstein Holsvik, CEO, GMI Group, added: “The decision to add two vessels reflects our confidence in the solution and in the cooperation established through the first project. Using the same core technology and delivery structure gives us a strong basis for developing a new generation of bulk carriers powered by renewable hydrogen.”
The follow-up order is said to strengthen Marine System 225 as a common platform for larger marine installations and to add another step in PowerCell’s progression from individual vessel projects to recurring fleet deliveries.
Image: PowerCell Marine System 225 (source: PowerCell Group)
