PowerCell Wins SEK 15 Million Contract for Norway Maritime Project

• PowerCell has secured a SEK 15 million order from H2SITE to provide Marine System 225 fuel cell systems and comprehensive engineering services for the Enova-supported HydraNord Power project in Norway.
• Led by H2SITE, the collaborative initiative aims to develop, integrate, and validate an advanced ammonia-to-power generation solution tailored for commercial maritime applications.
• The contract schedule spans execution from the fourth quarter of 2026 through the end of 2028, culminating in operational validation testing at Energy House in Stord, Norway.
• The integrated system combines H2SITE’s proprietary membrane reactor technology—which cracks ammonia into high-purity hydrogen—with PowerCell’s fuel cell platform to deliver a net electrical output of 700 kW.
• According to H2SITE CEO Andrés Galnares, the HydraNord Power initiative represents a critical milestone in making hydrogen readily available from ammonia onboard vessels to support decarbonisation across diverse ship types.

Norway (Norway Post Magazine) November 12, 2026 – Swedish hydrogen electric fuel cell developer PowerCell has secured a SEK 15 million commercial contract from H2SITE to supply Marine System 225 fuel cell units and associated engineering services for the Enova-backed HydraNord Power project in Norway. Announced on Wednesday, the multi-year project runs from late 2026 through December 2028 and unites maritime technology specialists to validate an integrated ammonia-to-power system delivering 700 kW of net electrical capacity. By pairing H2SITE’s membrane reactor technology with PowerCell’s industrialised marine fuel cells, the initiative targets auxiliary power generation for commercial shipping, utilising ammonia as a hydrogen carrier for long-distance maritime routes.

As reported by maritime technology and industrial energy correspondents, the HydraNord Power project addresses core logistical challenges associated with transitioning commercial shipping fleets toward zero-emission energy sources. As reported by shipping and energy markets analysts, while liquefied hydrogen requires cryogenic storage infrastructure that can complicate long-haul maritime operations, ammonia offers established handling characteristics, higher volumetric energy density, and globally recognised transport pathways, making it an increasingly viable vector for hydrogen supply onboard deep-sea and coastal vessels.

As reported by Scandinavian industrial trade publications covering clean technology investments, the collaboration brings together specialized expertise from across the European maritime supply chain. The technological architecture relies on H2SITE’s specialized membrane reactor units to convert liquid or stored ammonia directly into high-purity hydrogen gas on demand, which is then fed into PowerCell’s marine-grade fuel cell systems to generate reliable auxiliary electrical power without direct combustion emissions.

Elaborating on the technical parameters of the installation, project engineering disclosures indicate that the integrated ammonia-to-power unit is engineered to generate a net electrical output of 700 kW—a capacity threshold specifically designed to satisfy auxiliary hotel loads and onboard electrical demands for commercial cargo vessels and workboats. Testing and validation protocols are scheduled to take place at the specialized testing facility Energy House in Stord, Norway, under simulated operating conditions fully representative of rigorous marine environments.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the collaboration for clean maritime transport, Andrés Galnares, Chief Executive Officer of H2SITE, stated that “HydraNord Power is an important step in bringing ammonia-to-power closer to commercial maritime applications.” Expanding on the synergies between the participating firms, Andrés Galnares of H2SITE stated that ”our ambition is to make hydrogen available from ammonia where vessels need it and to develop a solution that can be deployed across different ship types. PowerCell brings industrialised marine fuel cell systems and valuable experience in integrating them into demanding maritime applications.”

Complementing H2SITE’s reactor innovations, PowerCell’s contribution centres on its established Marine System 225 platform. Developed specifically for harsh marine operating conditions, the system forms part of PowerCell’s broader “Fuel-to-Power” engineering approach, which seeks to forge interoperable technology partnerships that connect diverse hydrogen carriers and alternative fuel pathways with robust, modular electrical power generation units suitable for maritime classification societies.

What Are the Technical Specifications and Objectives of the HydraNord Power Project?

Project briefings and engineering disclosures from H2SITE and PowerCell outline the core parameters of the maritime demonstration initiative:

• System Net Electrical Output: Engineered to deliver 700 kW of continuous net electrical power, targeted directly at auxiliary load requirements on commercial vessels.
• Core Technological Integration: Combines H2SITE’s membrane reactor technology—which cracks ammonia into high-purity hydrogen close to the point of consumption—with PowerCell Marine System 225 fuel cells.
• Execution Timeline: Contract execution and system development are scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026, extending through the conclusion of 2028.
• Validation and Testing Environment: Final operational testing and verification will be conducted at Energy House located in Stord, Norway, under simulated maritime stress conditions.
• Funding and Support: Backed by Enova, the Norwegian government enterprise responsible for promoting environmentally friendly energy production and consumption.

How Does the PowerCell and H2SITE Partnership Structure Deliver Ammonia-to-Power Solutions?

Operational responsibilities and technical contributions are distributed across specialized engineering domains within the maritime value chain:

Background of the Particular Development After the News

The global maritime industry faces stringent regulatory decarbonisation targets established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which mandates significant greenhouse gas reductions across international shipping fleets over the coming decades. While battery electrification is effective for short-ferry operations, deep-sea and regional commercial shipping require high-density energy carriers. Hydrogen holds immense promise due to its zero-emission profile, but storing pure hydrogen requires extreme cryogenic temperatures or high-pressure tanks that consume valuable cargo space.

Ammonia ($NH_3$) has emerged as a leading alternative hydrogen carrier because it can be liquefied at moderate pressures or refrigeration temperatures, leveraging existing global storage and distribution networks. However, burning ammonia directly in internal combustion engines can result in nitrous oxide emissions and toxic slip concerns, making fuel cell conversion via ammonia-cracking technologies—such as the H2SITE and PowerCell integrated approach—an attractive pathway for clean maritime auxiliary power generation.

How This Development Can Affect Commercial Shipowners, Maritime Engineering, and Clean Energy Integration

The successful validation and commercialisation of the HydraNord Power system are projected to impact several key segments of the maritime economy:

1. Expansion of Zero-Emission Auxiliary Power Options for Shipowners

For commercial shipowners and operators navigating tightening environmental regulations, proven onboard ammonia-to-power systems offer a viable technological pathway to electrify auxiliary hotel loads on existing and new-build vessels without relying on bulky cryogenic pure-hydrogen storage.

2. Commercialisation of Onboard Hydrogen Cracking Technologies

For clean-tech equipment manufacturers and membrane reactor specialists like H2SITE, successful demonstration at Energy House in Stord will validate decentralized hydrogen cracking, paving the way for wider industrial adoption across various vessel classes, from tugboats to container ships.

3. Strengthening of the Scandinavian Clean Maritime Supply Chain

For engineering firms, shipyards, and system integrators in Norway and Sweden, collaborative projects supported by bodies like Enova reinforce the region’s position as a premier testbed and manufacturing hub for advanced maritime fuel cell and alternative fuel propulsion technologies.