French company Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) and the Marine & Ports division of Swiss group ABB have announced a joint development agreement to design and industrialise a high-power hydrogen fuel cell for the maritime sector. The partnership targets propulsion and auxiliary power applications for vessels operating in heavy-duty transport and coastal services.
The multi-megawatt fuel cell system under development will be certified for maritime standards and tailored to the technical requirements of shipowners, shipyards and maritime operators. It will be suitable for powering passenger ferries, cruise ships, container vessels and offshore service ships, while also supplying onboard systems. The product is designed to replace conventional diesel solutions, particularly on inter-island and coastal segments.
A structuring partnership based on complementary expertise
As part of the alliance, HDF Energy will lead the design, certification, manufacturing, testing and commercialisation of the fuel cell. ABB will handle onboard system integration and ensure compatibility with ship electrical networks, while leveraging its global sales network to promote the jointly developed solution. The division of responsibilities enables both firms to accelerate time to market for the technology.
The project is part of a broader industrial programme led by HDF Energy and backed by the French government under the France 2030 plan. The company recently secured a maximum funding of EUR168.8mn ($182.2mn) through the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) initiative, under the “Hy2Move” wave dedicated to hydrogen mobility.
International deployment and industrial base
HDF Energy has also launched a commercial strategy in Southeast Asia, with several memorandums of understanding signed in the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia. These partnerships aim to promote hydrogen propulsion alternatives to replace existing diesel-powered fleets on regional maritime routes.
The industrial site in Blanquefort, France, will serve as the production and testing centre for the new generation of fuel cells developed with ABB. It will allow large-scale testing using hydrogen produced directly on-site. This facility has been designed to support a rapid scale-up and meet growing global demand for decarbonised propulsion systems.
Hanane El Hamraoui, Chief Executive Officer of HDF Energy, stated that the collaboration “will deliver a system capable of powering the next generation of zero-emission ships”. Rune Braastad, President of ABB’s Marine & Ports division, highlighted the value of HDF Energy’s industrial platform in Blanquefort, which “can produce and test at megawatt scale using green hydrogen generated locally”.
