Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Top 10 Projects and Companies for Shipping and Maritime Application

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Charting a New, Cleaner Course for Global Shipping

Imagine the vast expanse of the ocean, crisscrossed by the colossal vessels that power our global economy. For centuries, the hum of diesel engines and the faint trail of smoke have been their signature. But a quiet revolution is taking place in the engine rooms of the world’s most advanced ships. Picture an LNG carrier gliding across the Pacific, its power generated not by combustion, but by a high-temperature electrochemical reaction, emitting virtually no pollutants and significantly reducing its carbon footprint. This isn’t a distant dream; it’s the reality being engineered today through the deployment of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), a technology poised to redefine maritime power and steer the industry toward a sustainable future.

Pioneering SOFC Installations at Sea

This technological shift is being driven by landmark projects where industry giants are integrating SOFCs into vessels, proving their viability for decarbonizing one of the world’s most essential sectors. These initial installations are critical stepping stones, demonstrating the power, efficiency, and environmental benefits of SOFCs in the demanding marine environment. Here are five key projects leading the charge.

1. MOL and Samsung Heavy Industries Develop LNG Carrier with SOFC

Companies: MOL (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines) and Samsung Heavy Industries
Installation Capacity: Not specified, but the LNG carrier will feature SOFC technology.
Applications: Power generation for LNG carriers, aiming for lower GHG emissions.
Source: Low-GHG Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) to Be Installed on LNG Carrier

2. HHI Group to Install 600-kW SOFC on Vessels

Companies: HHI (Hyundai Heavy Industries) Group, Doosan Fuel Cell, and HyAxiom
Installation Capacity: 600 kW
Applications: Power generation for vessels.
Source: Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering trying Fuel Cells for …

3. Bloom Energy and Samsung Heavy Industries Partner on SOFC-powered Ships

Companies: Bloom Energy and Samsung Heavy Industries
Installation Capacity: Not specified
Applications: Designing and developing ships equipped with SOFC fuel cells.
Source: Industrial Development Status and Prospects of the Marine Fuel Cell

4. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Sunfire Develop SOFC System for Marine Use

Companies: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Sunfire GmbH
Installation Capacity: 50 kW
Applications: SOFC system operated on low-sulfur diesel for marine applications.
Source: Industrial Development Status and Prospects of the Marine Fuel Cell

5. MSC World Europa Cruise Ship Powered by SOFC

Companies: MSC, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, and Bloom Energy
Installation Capacity: 150-kW SOFC system
Applications: Auxiliary power for the cruise ship, reducing emissions.
Source: Hydrogen Applications for Energy Transition in Port and Airport …

Table: Maritime Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Projects

From Niche Power to Prime Mover: SOFCs Chart a Course Across the Maritime Sector

The diversity of these projects signals a clear and strategic pathway for industry adoption. SOFCs are not being shoehorned into a single role; they are being tested and deployed across a spectrum of maritime needs. The 150-kW system on the *MSC World Europa* cruise ship, for example, serves as a perfect entry point. By powering auxiliary systems, it allows operators to gain real-world experience with the technology in a non-propulsion-critical role, de-risking the innovation while immediately cutting emissions in ports.

Simultaneously, projects like the 600-kW installation by HHI Group and the SOFC-powered LNG carrier from MOL and Samsung Heavy Industries demonstrate a much larger ambition. Here, SOFCs are moving from an auxiliary function to a primary power source, capable of handling significant electrical loads. This progression from supporting role to lead actor is a classic pattern of disruptive technology adoption. Furthermore, the ThyssenKrupp and Sunfire project highlights crucial fuel flexibility by running an SOFC on low-sulfur diesel, providing a potential bridge solution for the existing fleet without requiring a complete switch to alternative fuels like LNG or hydrogen.

East Asia Takes the Helm: Why the World’s Shipyards are Betting on SOFCs

The geographic concentration of these initiatives is impossible to ignore. South Korean shipbuilding giants Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) are central players in multiple projects, often in partnership with Japanese shipping line MOL. This isn’t a coincidence. As the world’s dominant shipbuilding nations, South Korea and Japan are not just experimenting with SOFCs; they are strategically positioning themselves to lead the construction of the next generation of clean vessels. Their deep involvement suggests that SOFC integration is moving beyond R&D and becoming a core component of future ship design and manufacturing.

While European firms like ThyssenKrupp, Sunfire, and Chantiers de l’Atlantique are clearly active innovators, the center of gravity for large-scale integration and deployment lies in East Asia. This trend implies that the supply chains, engineering expertise, and shipyard capacity required to make SOFC-powered ships a mainstream reality are rapidly coalescing in this region. This geographic focus signals that the world’s largest shipbuilders see SOFC technology as a commercially viable and necessary solution to meet upcoming global emissions regulations.

Crossing the Commercialization Chasm: Gauging SOFC Seaworthiness

These installations offer a clear narrative of technological maturation. The journey begins with smaller-scale systems like ThyssenKrupp’s 50-kW unit and MSC’s 150-kW demonstrator. These are crucial for proving long-term reliability, durability, and performance in the harsh, high-vibration marine environment. They are, in essence, the final stage of sea trials before widespread commercial rollout.

The leap to HHI Group’s 600-kW system represents a significant scaling factor, moving the technology from a supplemental power unit to a substantial energy provider. This four-fold increase in capacity from the MSC project indicates confidence is growing and the engineering challenges of scaling are being solved. The design-phase partnerships, such as Bloom Energy with Samsung Heavy Industries, are perhaps the most telling indicator of maturity. These collaborations are no longer about asking “if” SOFCs can work on ships, but “how” to integrate them at the megawatt-scale needed for full vessel power from the blueprint stage. This shift from retrofitting demonstration units to designing newbuilds around the technology marks the transition from emerging tech to a commercially ready solution.

The Dawn of the High-Efficiency Fleet: What’s on the Horizon for Maritime SOFCs?

The projects listed here are not isolated experiments; they are foundational investments signaling the future direction of maritime energy. The immediate trend is clear: SOFCs are being adopted as a highly efficient way to use existing low-carbon fuels like LNG to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate harmful pollutants like SOx and NOx. This makes them a perfect fit for the current energy transition.

Looking forward, the true strategic value of SOFCs lies in their fuel flexibility. The same core technology being installed today can be adapted to run on future zero-carbon fuels like green ammonia and hydrogen with minimal redesign. This makes an investment in SOFCs a future-proof strategy, allowing shipowners to meet today’s environmental targets while being prepared for tomorrow’s fuel landscape. As these initial installations prove their worth, we can expect to see a rapid acceleration in adoption, with power capacities scaling into the megawatts to handle the full propulsion and hoteling needs of even the largest ocean-going vessels. The silent revolution is underway, and it is steering the shipping industry toward a cleaner, more efficient horizon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) and why are they important for the shipping industry?
A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) generates electricity through a high-temperature electrochemical reaction, unlike traditional engines that rely on combustion. This is crucial for the shipping industry because SOFCs are highly efficient, can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and virtually eliminate harmful pollutants like sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), offering a cleaner pathway for maritime power.

What types of fuel can maritime SOFCs use?
SOFCs are valued for their fuel flexibility. The current projects highlighted in the article use fuels like Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and even low-sulfur diesel. A key strategic advantage is that the core technology can be adapted in the future to run on zero-carbon fuels like green ammonia and hydrogen, making it a future-proof investment for shipowners navigating the energy transition.

Why are shipbuilding giants in South Korea, like Samsung and Hyundai, so involved in these SOFC projects?
South Korean shipbuilders are dominant players in the global market. Their heavy involvement indicates a strategic move to lead the construction of the next generation of clean vessels. By integrating SOFCs into new ship designs, they are positioning themselves to meet future global emissions regulations and are moving the technology from the R&D phase to a core component of commercial ship manufacturing.

The projects mentioned have very different power capacities (from 50 kW to 600 kW). What does this signify?
The varying capacities demonstrate a deliberate, scaling adoption strategy. Smaller installations (like the 150-kW unit on the MSC cruise ship) serve as crucial real-world tests for auxiliary power, de-risking the technology. The leap to larger 600-kW systems shows that confidence is growing and the technology is being proven capable of handling a ship’s primary power loads, marking a clear path from a supporting role to a prime mover.

What is the immediate future for SOFCs in shipping?
The immediate trend is the adoption of SOFCs to use current low-carbon fuels like LNG more efficiently, drastically cutting emissions and eliminating pollutants. As these initial large-scale projects prove their reliability and commercial viability at sea, the next step will be to scale the installations into the megawatt range, enabling them to handle the full propulsion and hoteling needs of even the largest ocean-going vessels.