PowerCell has signed an Skr44m (US$4.6m) agreement with an Italian marine OEM for the development and delivery of a new high-power marine fuel cell system. The order represents the first commercial commitment to PowerCell’s next-gen stack platform, developed to meet the demands of large-scale marine and industrial applications. It is expected to generate Skr11m (US$1m) in revenue in 2025.
Electric marine fuel cell system
The system, designated MS-500, will deliver up to 1MW of net electrical output through two integrated units. It builds on PowerCell’s high-performance stack platform (HDS), developed for marine, aviation and stationary power segments. The system is designed for containerized integration and will serve as auxiliary power on board, with potential to scale into main propulsion in future applications.
According to the company, the MS-500 system will be tailored to meet class requirements and is expected to be type-approved ahead of market introduction in 2028. Compared to previous platforms, it delivers higher output within the same physical footprint, PowerCell says, “enabling more flexible installation and improved energy efficiency for shipowners and system integrators”.
First commercial order
“This agreement is about scale, precision and continued progress,” said Richard Berkling, CEO of PowerCell Group. “The marine fuel cell market has already moved beyond technical pilots – we saw that shift begin last year with the commercial adoption of our marine system 225. What we are seeing now is acceleration. This order confirms that leading OEMs are not only adopting zero-emission solutions, but they are also planning for the next generation with higher power, lower cost and smaller footprint. This new platform complements our current product range and strengthens our ability to support customers as fuel cells become a core part of vessel architecture.”
In related news, PowerCell recently signed an order for two 100kW marine fuel cell systems from OS Energy for the Transship II sustainable vessel project. This initiative will focus on retrofitting Bangor University’s research vessel Prince Madog with a hydrogen-electric hybrid propulsion system. Read the full story here