Swedish-Swiss ABB and France-based HDF Energy have signed a joint-development agreement (JDA) to develop a high-power fuel cell unit that will enable megawatt-scale installations to power large seagoing ships.
The partners, who signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2020 envisaging the collaboration, said that the cell unit is anticipated to be installed on board several vessel types, even large seagoing vessels such as container feeder ships and liquefied hydrogen carriers.
Pilot installations are expected in 2028-2029, with serial production anticipated from 2030.
The collaboration combines ABB’s system integration expertise with HDF’s capabilities in designing and producing large fuel cell units, with HDF to provide the fuel cell technology and ABB power converters, power management, and electrical and control integration.
The two parties are collaborating on specifications, conceptual design, and commercial opportunities.
According to ABB, the high-power fuel cell unit will enable the 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 utilize a carbon-neutral fuel such as green hydrogen, the decarbonization impact will be particularly significant.
The company further noted that its 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 maximize the operational range and flexibility of the hybrid power system. The unit also 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.
“ABB and HDF have been collaborating for several years, making significant progress toward a viable solution for decarbonizing larger vessels,” said Rune Braastad , President of ABB’s Marine & Ports division. “We at ABB remain fully committed to developing technologies that accelerate maritime decarbonization, and this new agreement with HDF reflects another important step forward.”