The Swedish PowerCell Group has secured a contract to supply fuel cell systems for two hydrogen-powered bulk carriers for Norway-based GMI Rederi.
The contract, valued at just over SEK 40m, includes 14 Marine System 225 units, providing more than 3MW of power, as well as engineering services. Deliveries are scheduled for 2026 – 2027.
According to PowerCell, the Marine System 225 is now being deployed across a wide range of applications in the maritime sector. With bulk carriers added to the portfolio, the system is said to be demonstrating its flexibility and competitiveness for demanding use cases across shipping.
Each of the two vessels will be fitted with seven Marine System 225 units, enabling them to operate entirely without emissions by replacing fossil fuels with renewable hydrogen. At 85m long with 4,000 dwt capacity, the vessels will be the first bulk carriers to be powered by hydrogen when launched in early 2027.
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. The project has received support from the Norwegian government’s Enova fund and the NOx Fund, and is part of the Green Shipping Programme, a public–private collaboration aimed at accelerating green maritime innovation.
Stig Kallestad, Marine Director, PowerCell Group, said: “This project shows just how far the Marine System 225 has come in proving itself as a reliable and competitive solution across shipping segments. Bulk carriers are demanding applications, and the fact that our technology is chosen here demonstrates that hydrogen fuel cells are no longer just pilots, they are real solutions for real operations.”
Richard Berkling, CEO PowerCell Group, added: “We continue to expand the use of our Marine System 225, and with GMI Rederi we are now moving into bulk carriers, a new and important segment in shipping. Regulatory frameworks such as ETS trading and IMO requirements are pushing the break-even point in favour of hydrogen fuel cells, making them a competitive and future-ready choice for operators. This is not only about two ships; it is about setting a new standard for zero-emission maritime transport.”
Torstein Holsvik, CEO GMI Rederi, said: “Existing bulk carriers are outdated, and we needed to think completely anew.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.”
With this order, PowerCell believes that it further strengthens its market position as a supplier of fuel cell solutions for hard-to-abate sectors such as marine, delivering real projects that accelerate the transition to sustainable energy.
Marine System 225 hydrogen power cell unit (source: PowerCell Group)
