Fuel Cell Power Systems for Maritime Applications: Hybrid Architectures, Energy Management and Deployment Challenges

Le Li; Shuhan Huang; Feng Yan

doi:10.54691/s2abyz71

Authors

Le Li School of Navigation and Shipping, Shandong Jiaotong University, Weihai, 264200, China
Shuhan Huang School of Navigation and Shipping, Shandong Jiaotong University, Weihai, 264200, China
Feng Yan School of Navigation and Shipping, Shandong Jiaotong University, Weihai, 264200, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/s2abyz71

Keywords:

Fuel cell ships; hydrogen; hybrid propulsion; energy management; PEMFC; battery storage; shipboard microgrid; maritime decarbonization.

Abstract

The decarbonization of maritime transport is accelerating the transition from conventional diesel-based propulsion to low- and zero-emission power systems. Fuel cells are increasingly regarded as a promising option for ferries, inland vessels, harbor craft, research vessels and other mission-defined ships because they convert chemical energy into electricity with high efficiency, low acoustic signatures and zero local carbon emissions when operated on hydrogen. Nevertheless, their deployment at sea remains constrained by slow transient response, stack degradation, hydrogen storage volume, safety requirements, cost and the availability of bunkering infrastructure. For these reasons, most practical fuel-cell ship concepts adopt hybrid configurations in which fuel cells are coupled with batteries, supercapacitors or diesel generators. This review summarizes recent progress in maritime fuel-cell power systems from four interrelated perspectives: fuel-cell technologies and shipboard architectures; hybridization and energy management; hydrogen storage, vessel integration and safety; and life-cycle emissions and commercialization barriers. Particular attention is paid to fuel-cell/battery systems, multi-stack power allocation, health-aware control and real-time energy management strategies. The review argues that future research should move beyond feasibility demonstrations and fuel-saving-oriented control toward integrated design frameworks that combine state-aware fuel-cell operation, degradation mitigation, mission-based sizing, safety-by-design and well-to-wake environmental assessment. Such an approach is essential for translating fuel-cell vessels from pilot projects into reliable and economically viable components of maritime decarbonization.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] International Maritime Organization. (2023). 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships. https://www.imo.org

[2] International Maritime Organization. (2020). Fourth IMO Greenhouse Gas Study 2020.

[3] DNV. (2023). Maritime Forecast to 2050.

[4] Bouman, E. A., Lindstad, E., Rialland, A. I., & Strømman, A. H. (2017). State-of-the-art technologies, measures, and potential for reducing GHG emissions from shipping. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 52, 408–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2017.03.001

[5] Balcombe, P., Brierley, J., Lewis, C., Skatvedt, L., Speirs, J., Hawkes, A., & Staffell, I. (2019). How to decarbonise international shipping: Options for fuels, technologies and policies. Energy Conversion and Management, 182, 72–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.12.013

[6] Gilbert, P., Walsh, C., Traut, M., Kesieme, U., Pazouki, K., & Murphy, A. (2018). Assessment of full life-cycle air emissions of alternative shipping fuels. Journal of Cleaner Production, 172, 855–866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.165

[7] van Biert, L., Godjevac, M., Visser, K., & Aravind, P. V. (2016). A review of fuel cell systems for maritime applications. Journal of Power Sources, 327, 345–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.07.076

[8] Xing, H., Stuart, C., Spence, S., & Chen, H. (2021). Fuel cell power systems for maritime applications: Progress and perspectives. Sustainability, 13(3), 1213. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031213

[9] Elkafas, A. G., Rivarolo, M., Gadducci, E., Magistri, L., & Massardo, A. F. (2023). Fuel cell systems for maritime: A review of research development, commercial products, applications and perspectives. Processes, 11(1), 97. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11010097

[10] McKinlay, C., Turnock, S. R., & Hudson, D. A. (2021). Route to zero emission shipping: Hydrogen, ammonia or methanol? International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46(55), 28282–28297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.06.085

[11] Osman, A. I., Nasr, M., Lichtfouse, E., Rooney, D. W., & Fennell, P. S. (2024). Hydrogen, ammonia and methanol for marine transportation. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 22(4), 2151–2158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-024-01691-8

[12] de-Troya, J. J., Álvarez, C., Fernández-Garrido, C., & Carral, L. (2016). Analysing the possibilities of using fuel cells in ships. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41(4), 2853–2866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.12.031

[13] Klebanoff, L. E., Caughlan, S. A. M., Madsen, R. T., Conard, C. J., Leach, T. S., & Appelgate, T. B. (2021). Comparative study of a hybrid research vessel utilizing batteries or hydrogen fuel cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46(76), 38051–38072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.08.024

[14] Pratt, J. W., Klebanoff, L. E., Munoz-Ramos, K., Akhil, A. A., Curgus, D. B., & Schenkman, B. L. (2016). Feasibility of the SF-BREEZE: A Zero-Emission, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, High-Speed Passenger Ferry. Sandia National Laboratories.

[15] Pratt, J. W., & Klebanoff, L. E. (2018). Optimization of Zero Emission Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry Design, With Comparisons to the SF-BREEZE. Sandia National Laboratories.

[16] Klebanoff, L. E., Pratt, J. W., & LaFleur, C. (2018). The Zero-V: Feasibility of a Liquid Hydrogen Fueled Coastal Research Vessel. Sandia National Laboratories.

[17] Choi, C. H., Yu, S., Han, I. S., Kho, B. K., Kang, D. G., Lee, H. Y., Seo, M. S., Kong, J. W., Kim, G., Ahn, J. W., Park, S. K., Jang, D. W., Lee, J. H., & Kim, M. (2016). Development and demonstration of PEM fuel-cell-battery hybrid system for propulsion of tourist boat. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41(5), 3591–3599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.12.163

[18] Shih, N. C., Weng, B. J., Lee, J. Y., & Hsiao, Y. C. (2014). Development of a 20 kW generic hybrid fuel cell power system for small ships and underwater vehicles. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39(25), 13894–13901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.06.151

[19] Han, J., Charpentier, J. F., & Tang, T. (2014). An energy management system of a fuel cell/battery hybrid boat. Energies, 7(5), 2799–2820. https://doi.org/10.3390/en7052799

[20] Al Amerl, A., Oukkacha, I., Camara, M. B., & Dakyo, B. (2021). Real-time control strategy of fuel cell and battery system for electric hybrid boat application. Sustainability, 13(16), 8693. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168693

[21] Cao, W., Geng, P., Xu, X., Guo, Y., & Ma, Z. (2023). A power allocation strategy for fuel cell ship considering fuel cell performance difference. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 9905. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37114-3

[22] Bassam, A. M., Phillips, A. B., Turnock, S. R., & Wilson, P. A. (2016). An improved energy management strategy for a hybrid fuel cell/battery passenger vessel. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41(47), 22453–22464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.09.099

[23] Bassam, A. M., Phillips, A. B., Turnock, S. R., & Wilson, P. A. (2017). Development of a multi-scheme energy management strategy for a hybrid fuel cell driven passenger ship. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42(1), 623–635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.10.104

[24] Rafiei Foroushani, M., Boudjadar, J., & Khooban, M. H. (2021). Energy management of a zero-emission ferry boat with a fuel-cell-based hybrid energy system: Feasibility assessment. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 68(2), 1739–1748. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2020.2972453

[25] Wu, P., & Bucknall, R. (2020). Hybrid fuel cell and battery propulsion system modelling and multi-objective optimisation for a coastal ferry. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 45(4), 3193–3208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.11.172

[26] Wu, P., Partridge, J., & Bucknall, R. (2020). Cost-effective reinforcement learning energy management for plug-in hybrid fuel cell and battery ships. Applied Energy, 275, 115258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115258

[27] Peng, X., Chen, H., & Guan, C. (2023). Energy management optimization of fuel cell hybrid ship based on particle swarm optimization algorithm. Energies, 16(3), 1373. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16031373

[28] Ge, Y., Zhang, J., Zhou, K., Zhu, J., & Wang, Y. (2023). Research on energy management for ship hybrid power system based on adaptive equivalent consumption minimization strategy. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 11(7), 1271. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11071271

[29] Niu, L., Chen, H., Guan, C., & Zhang, Z. (2024). Optimization of topology and energy management in fuel cell cruise ship hybrid power systems. Intelligent Marine Technology and Systems, 2, 26. https://doi.org/10.35840/2692-8326/2426

[30] Xie, P., Asgharian, H., Guerrero, J. M., Vasquez, J. C., Araya, S. S., & Liso, V. (2024). A two-layer energy management system for a hybrid electrical passenger ship with multi-PEM fuel cell stack. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 50, 1005–1019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.10.238

[31] Liu, H., Fan, A., Li, Y., Bucknall, R., & Vladimir, N. (2025). Multi-objective hierarchical energy management strategy for fuel cell/battery hybrid power ships. Applied Energy, 379, 124981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.124981

[32] Wang, H., Oguz, S., Jeong, M., & Zhou, X. (2023). Life cycle analysis of hydrogen powered marine vessels: Case ship comparison study with conventional power system. Sustainability, 15(17), 12946. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712946

[33] American Bureau of Shipping. (2023). Requirements for Hydrogen Fueled Vessels.

[34] International Maritime Organization. (2015). International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code).