en.Wedoany.com Reported - UK-based Elire Maritime and its consortium partners have validated a floating hydrogen power hub that can provide clean electricity to berthed ships without relying on existing shore-side power grids.
According to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the shipping industry emitted 1.056 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2018, accounting for approximately 3% of global total emissions. The IMO estimates that under a business-as-usual scenario, shipping emissions could reach 90% to 130% of 2008 levels by 2050. This power hub addresses the biggest obstacle to port decarbonization: reliable grid infrastructure access. Many ports struggle to expand or retrofit shore power due to capacity constraints, lengthy upgrade cycles, and high costs. Instead of relying on existing infrastructure, this power hub delivers clean energy directly to ships.
Traditional shore power projects often require large-scale expansion and years of approvals before becoming operational. These bottlenecks slow the adoption of clean technologies, despite growing emission regulations and industry pressure. The hydrogen power hub tackles these challenges by moving energy infrastructure directly onto the water. Three interconnected floating platforms, covering approximately 1,200 square meters, integrate hydrogen storage, fuel cells, battery storage, onboard renewable power generation, and advanced power electronics. The platform can provide up to 5 MW of continuous clean power to ships, while supporting standard shore power connections used by large maritime assets at voltages of 6.6 kV and 11 kV.
The platform consumes approximately 16,500 to 17,600 pounds of hydrogen per week, stored in modular low-pressure containers within the floating structure. The system currently includes seven onboard hydrogen tanks, requiring refueling roughly twice a week. Rather than generating power only on demand, the platform uses modular 1.3 MW fuel cells to continuously charge the onboard battery system, enabling rapid delivery of clean power to berthed ships. An additional 146 kW of onboard solar capacity helps offset energy demand and improve overall hydrogen efficiency. The hub can deliver approximately 91 MWh of energy per week.
An emission analysis during the feasibility phase estimated that the system could reduce ship emissions by approximately 77% compared to traditional onboard diesel power generation. This reduction estimate accounts for emissions associated with hydrogen production and storage. The analysis estimated savings of approximately 47 tonnes of CO2 per ship per week, or about 2,444 tonnes per year, along with significant reductions in nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulate matter emissions. Through widespread deployment of this floating clean energy infrastructure, the consortium expects the technology could help reduce global carbon emissions by up to 500,000 tonnes over the next decade.
A specialized consortium of academic and industrial partners conducted a six-month validation program for the hydrogen power hub. The University of Strathclyde performed wave tank testing to validate platform stability, structural integrity, and multi-platform interconnectivity. Triton Anchor completed mooring analysis and anchor system validation. Schneider Electric evaluated the grid-independent AC/DC electrical architecture and battery energy storage management. Ricardo and Rux Energy validated the hydrogen-to-power integration system and end-to-end gas handling. Ricardo also led the emission analysis during the feasibility phase, confirming a 77% reduction in ship greenhouse gas emissions.
The maritime consortium estimates the global market opportunity for hydrogen power hubs at least 62 TWh per year, particularly in ports where existing shore power infrastructure is limited or prohibitively expensive. While hydrogen production is currently more expensive than diesel power generation, scale and technology are expected to reduce costs as demand continues to grow. Following successful validation, Elire Maritime is advancing discussions for future deployments in the UK, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
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