PowerCell, a Swedish supplier of fuel cells for the marine market, has secured a contract worth just over SEK40m ($4.25m) to supply the fuel cell systems for two hydrogen-powered bulk carriers.

The order includes 14 of PowerCell’s Marine System 225 units, providing over 3 MW of power, with the deliveries scheduled for 2026 – 2027, to be built by GMI Rederi.

Each of the two bulk carrier vessels will be fitted with seven Marine System 225 units, enabling them to operate entirely without emissions by replacing fossil fuels with renewable hydrogen. When launched in 2027, the vessels will be the world’s first hydrogen-powered bulk carriers. 

GMI Rederi is developing the vessels, while the engineering, integration and certification process for the hydrogen system will be handled by eCap Marine, a German ship integrator specialising in green propulsion solutions. 

Torstein Holsvik, CEO at GMI Rederi, commented: “Existing bulk carriers are outdated, and we needed to think completely anew. After careful evaluation of technology maturity, fuel availability, and cost-effectiveness, we chose compressed hydrogen with fuel cells as the most future-ready solution.”