PEM Fuel Cell Maritime Pilots, 6 MW Torghatten Nord Order with Power Cell, and 10+ Projects (2021 to 2026)

Maritime Fuel Cell Adoption, Power Cell and Ballard lead 10+ Projects

The maritime fuel cell market is decisively shifting from small-scale, grant-funded pilots to commercially procured, multi-megawatt systems for primary vessel power, driven by escalating carbon pricing in key regions. This transition marks the beginning of commercial adoption, with Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells leading initial orders while Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) are being validated for future fuel flexibility.

• Between 2021 and 2024, the market was defined by sub-megawatt demonstrations that proved operational viability. Key projects included the 360 k W Sea Change ferry in the U.S., the 400 k W liquid hydrogen-powered MF Hydra in Norway, and China’s 500 k W “Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat No. 1, ” all of which established crucial performance data in real-world marine environments.
• A significant commercial inflection point occurred from 2023 into 2025, characterized by a move to multi-megawatt systems. The most notable is Torghatten Nord’s order for two ferries in Norway, each to be equipped with a 6 MW PEMFC system from Power Cell Group, representing the largest maritime fuel cell installations to date. An unnamed 2.4 MW retrofit project announced in 2023 further confirms this trend toward larger power configurations.
• Technology is diversifying to accommodate future fuels, reducing reliance on pure hydrogen. While PEM technology from leaders like Power Cell and Ballard Power Systems dominates current projects, SOFC technology is advancing rapidly. The delivery of a 2 MW ammonia-powered SOFC system from Alma Clean Power for the Viking Energy in 2023 and Bloom Energy’s achievement of ABS Type Approval in September 2025 signal a viable pathway for fuels like ammonia and LNG.
• The primary catalyst for this commercial acceleration is regulatory economics, specifically the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). With the compliance cost for conventional fuel projected to hit $319 per metric ton of VLSFO by January 1, 2026, fuel cells are transitioning from an environmental alternative to a financially logical investment for shipowners operating in European waters.

€19.2 M Power Cell Deal Highlights Maritime Fuel Cell Investment

Investment in maritime fuel cells is evolving from a reliance on public grants for small demonstrations to significant private capital commitments for commercial-scale systems and essential manufacturing capacity. This financial maturation is a direct response to the increasing commercial and regulatory certainty surrounding the technology.

• Early-stage projects continue to be supported by public funding, which de-risks initial deployments. In August 2025, SWITCH Maritime LLC was awarded $2 million from NYSERDA to develop New York’s first hydrogen fuel cell-electric ferry, a model for government-backed innovation.
• The market’s move toward commercial procurement is best exemplified by Power Cell Group’s €19.2 million ($20.6 million) order from ferry operator Torghatten Nord in March 2023. This transaction is not a subsidized pilot but a commercial purchase for primary propulsion systems, signaling shipowner confidence in the technology’s business case.
• Upstream investments are crucial for enabling widespread adoption by ensuring a stable supply of fuel cell systems. Hyundai Motor’s groundbreaking in October 2025 for a new plant capable of producing 30, 000 fuel cell units annually is a critical step in building the manufacturing scale required for the maritime sector and other hydrogen applications.

Fuel Cell Market to Reach $18.16B by 2030

This section focuses on a significant €19.2 M investment in Power Cell. The chart provides the broader context, showing the massive market potential that is attracting such investments and underscoring the deal’s significance.

(Source: MarketsandMarkets)

Table: Maritime Fuel Cell Investments and Orders

Fuel Cell Market to Exceed $50B by 2031

This section provides a table of specific investments and orders. The chart complements this data by providing a top-down market forecast, illustrating the overall market growth that these individual deals are part of.

(Source: Mordor Intelligence)

Ballard Power Systems and ABB 3 MW Module Partnership (2022)

Strategic partnerships that integrate fuel cell expertise with system integration, fuel production, and end-user demand are proving critical to overcoming barriers to adoption and scaling the technology for diverse maritime applications.

• Alliances are targeting the needs of large, ocean-going vessels. The February 2022 milestone achieved by Ballard Power Systems and ABB for a high-power fuel cell unit scalable in 3 MW blocks shows a clear focus on developing solutions for the deep-sea shipping segment, which requires massive power outputs.
• Partnerships are forming to leverage specialized technology and accelerate market entry. The 2025 collaboration between Ceres Power and Alma Clean Power combines Ceres’ established SOFC technology with Alma’s maritime focus to develop systems that offer fuel flexibility, including ammonia, hydrogen, and LNG.
• Collaboration is extending to the entire value chain to secure fuel supply. The March 2025 joint development agreement between Fuel Cell Energy and Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering (MHB) to study a large-scale green fuel production facility is a key example of integrating technology manufacturing with the future fuel supply chain.
• End-user partnerships are essential for creating market pull. In late 2025, Fortescue established agreements with major shipping operators like Höegh Autoliners and COSCO Shipping to accelerate the deployment of ammonia-powered vessels, providing critical demand signals to technology developers and shipbuilders.

Table: Key Maritime Fuel Cell Partnerships

Chart Maps the Fuel Cell Generator Ecosystem

This section presents a table of key maritime fuel cell partnerships. The ecosystem map provides a powerful visual summary of these relationships, showing how the different players in the fuel cell space are connected.

(Source: MarketsandMarkets)

Europe vs. Asia, Fuel Cell Maritime Project Leadership

Europe, led by Norway, has decisively established itself as the global leader in deploying high-capacity maritime fuel cell systems, driven by strong regulatory frameworks and government support. Meanwhile, Asia is building a formidable manufacturing and supply base, and the United States is advancing through state-supported landmark projects.

• Norway is the clear epicenter for high-power deployment, hosting the world’s most advanced projects. These include the 6 MW Torghatten Nord ferries, the pioneering 2 MW ammonia-powered Viking Energy, and the world’s first liquid hydrogen ferry, MF Hydra. This leadership is a direct result of ambitious national decarbonization targets and established green shipping corridors.
• The European Union provides the broader regulatory and financial engine for adoption. The inclusion of shipping in the EU ETS creates a strong financial case for decarbonization, while programs like the Clean Hydrogen JU provide critical funding for projects with power capacities ranging from 25 k W to 3 MW.
• Asia is focusing on securing a strategic position in the technology supply chain. In South Korea, Hyundai Motor is constructing a major fuel cell production plant. In China, the 500 k W “Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat No. 1” became operational in 2024. In Malaysia, a partnership including Fuel Cell Energy is exploring large-scale green fuel production.
• The United States is cultivating adoption through state-level initiatives and high-profile demonstration projects. The Sea Change ferry in 2021 was a national first, and the upcoming NY Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry, backed by a $2 million grant in 2025, continues this strategy of using landmark projects to build industry experience and public acceptance.

Technology Readiness, From PEMFC Pilots to SOFC Commercialization

PEM fuel cell technology has achieved early commercial maturity for maritime use, evidenced by the transition from pilots to multi-megawatt orders, while SOFC technology is rapidly progressing toward commercial readiness as a flexible solution for future fuels like ammonia.

• The 2021-2024 period successfully validated PEMFC systems in operational environments (Technology Readiness Level 7). Sub-megawatt pilots like the 360 k W Sea Change and 400 k W MF Hydra demonstrated the technology’s reliability and safety, paving the way for larger applications. This trend includes systems integrating technology from adjacent sectors, such as Yanmar’s 300 k W marine system using modules from Toyota’s Mirai platform, which is central to the growth of electric vehicles.
• From 2025 onward, PEMFCs are transitioning to full commercial systems (TRL 8-9). The 6 MW orders for the Torghatten Nord ferries are not for demonstration but for primary propulsion in revenue service, marking a definitive shift from prototype to commercial product.
• SOFC technology is quickly closing the maturity gap. The 2 MW ammonia-fueled system on the Viking Energy (2023) served as a groundbreaking TRL 7 demonstration. More importantly, Bloom Energy’s achievement of ABS Type Approval in September 2025 is a critical de-risking event that advances its SOFC system toward commercial deployment (TRL 8).
• Despite technological advances, cost remains a primary barrier to widespread adoption. Current fuel cell system CAPEX is estimated to be two to three times higher than conventional engines, with one study finding the total cost of ownership to be 1.98 times that of a comparable diesel generator. Achieving cost-competitiveness will depend on manufacturing scale and further reductions in carbon allowance costs for fossil fuels.

Marine SOFC Market Forecast Shows Strong Growth

This section discusses the evolution of fuel cell technology from PEM pilots to SOFC commercialization. The chart directly supports this narrative by forecasting strong growth specifically for the marine SOFC market.

(Source: IDTechEx)

SWOT Analysis for Maritime Fuel Cells, Power Cell and Bloom Energy

The maritime fuel cell market is propelled by powerful regulatory tailwinds and maturing technology, creating clear strengths and opportunities. However, it concurrently faces significant weaknesses from high upfront costs and threats related to infrastructure and global policy uncertainty.

Fuel Cell Market Growth Forecast by Product

This section conducts a SWOT analysis for key players. The chart illustrates a key ‘Opportunity’: the significant growth forecast for the fuel cell market, with differentiation across product types that companies can target.

(Source: Global Market Insights)

Table: SWOT Analysis for Maritime Fuel Cell Adoption

Zero-Emission Fuels Face Energy Density Challenge

This section’s table outlines a SWOT analysis for adoption. The chart perfectly illustrates a major ‘Weakness’ or ‘Threat’ that would be featured in the analysis: the inherent energy density challenge of zero-emission fuels compared to conventional marine fuels.

(Source: IDTechEx)

2026 Outlook, Ballard and Power Cell Compete for EU Market Share

In 2026, the key signal for broader market adoption will be the first commercial orders for multi-megawatt fuel cell systems on vessel types beyond the ferry segment, driven by the escalating cost of carbon under the EU ETS.

• If the price of carbon allowances under the EU ETS continues its upward trend, watch for the first fuel cell retrofit orders on small container feeder ships or Ro-Ro vessels operating primarily within European waters. This would signal that the business case is becoming viable for workhorse vessel types, not just specialized newbuilds.
• With Bloom Energy having secured ABS Type Approval and Ceres Power partnering with Alma Clean Power, watch for the first firm commercial order of a multi-megawatt SOFC system. This event would validate the ammonia or LNG pathway as a commercially competitive alternative to the hydrogen-PEMFC route, particularly for operators planning for future fuel flexibility.
• The postponement of the IMO’s global framework has created uncertainty. Watch to see if major shipping lines like COSCO, which have entered partnerships with fuel producers like Fortescue, proceed with firm orders for ammonia-ready newbuilds in 2026. Such a move would confirm that first-mover advantage and regional regulations are sufficient to drive investment, even without a global mandate.

Shipping Fuel Mix Projections to 2050

This section provides a near-term competitive outlook for 2026. The chart provides the long-term strategic context, showing the massive shift in the shipping fuel mix by 2050 that is the underlying driver for the fuel cell market competition.

(Source: ScienceDirect.com)

The questions your competitors are already asking

This report covers one angle of commercial fuel cell adoption in the maritime sector. The questions that matter most depend on your work.

• Which fuel cell suppliers like Power Cell and Ballard are gaining or losing ground in the maritime market?
• What is actually happening with the 6 MW Torghatten Nord deployment since the order was placed?
• How does PEM technology compare to SOFC for primary vessel power and future fuel flexibility?
• Which ferry and vessel operators are adopting multi-megawatt fuel cell systems?

This report does not answer these. Enki Brief Pro does.

Your question, your angle, your framework. SWOT, PESTL, scenario modelling. The same niche depth, built around the decision your work actually depends on.

Run your first brief in Enki Brief Pro