PowerCell Group will supply the fuel cell systems for two hydrogen-powered bulk carriers to be built by GMI Rederi AS. The contract includes fourteen Marine System 225 units, providing 3+ MW of power, as well as engineering services. Deliveries are scheduled for 2026–2027.
The contract is valued at just over SEK 40 million (about EUR 3.6 million). This order continues the strong momentum of the Marine System 225, which is now being deployed across a wide range of applications in the maritime sector. With bulk carriers added to the portfolio, the system is demonstrating its flexibility and competitiveness for demanding use cases across shipping.
‘Bulk carriers are demanding applications, and the fact that our technology is chosen here demonstrates that hydrogen fuel cells are no longer just pilots, they are real solutions for real operations,’ says Stig Kallestad, Marine Director at PowerCell Group.
Also read: Feadship launches 118.80-metre fuel-cell yacht
Compressed hydrogen
Each of the two vessels will be fitted with seven Marine System 225 units, enabling them to operate entirely without emissions by replacing fossil fuels with renewable hydrogen. At 85 metres long with a deadweight capacity of 4000 tonnes, the vessels will be the first hydrogen-powered bulk carriers in the world when launched in early 2027.
Torstein Holsvik, CEO at GMI Rederi: ‘Existing bulk carriers are outdated, and we needed to think completely anew. After careful evaluation of technology maturity, fuel availability, and cost-effectiveness, we chose compressed hydrogen with fuel cells as the most future-ready solution.’
Government funding
GMI Rederi is developing the vessels, while the engineering, integration and certification process for the hydrogen system will be handled by eCap Marine, a German ship integrator specialising in green propulsion solutions. The project has received support from the Norwegian government’s Enova fund and the NOx Fund, and is part of the Green Shipping Programme, a public–private collaboration aimed at accelerating green maritime innovation.
‘We continue to expand the use of our Marine System 225, and with GMI Rederi we are now moving into bulk carriers, a new and important segment in shipping,’ adds Richard Berkling, CEO of PowerCell Group. ‘Regulatory frameworks such as ETS trading and IMO requirements are pushing the break-even point in favour of hydrogen fuel cells, making them a competitive and future-ready choice for operators. This is not only about two ships; it is about setting a new standard for zero-emission maritime transport.’
Picture: Marine System 225 fuel cell (photo by PowerCell Group).
Also read: ABB integrates multi-MW fuel cell in hydrogen superyacht
