Hydrogen News

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has issued the first Type Approval Certificate for a 100% hydrogen-fueled, spark-ignited marine engine.The approval has been awarded to the hydrogen engine developed by BeHydro and confirms the design meets LR’s requirements for safety, performance and reliability in marine applications.The engine has been developed and tested at ABC Engines’ facility in Ghent and is designed to operate entirely on hydrogen, without the need for pilot fuels. This simplifies system design and removes onboard carbon emissions at source…

Italian engineering, certification and consulting company RINA has secured a contract to provide safety assessment services for Indonesia's Green Hydrogen Hub Project H2WATT, a key initiative being developed by PLN Puslitbang, the research and development arm of state-owned utility PT PLN.The H2WATT project is aimed at supporting Indonesia's energy transition through the development of an integrated green hydrogen ecosystem and forms part of the country's broader efforts to build a low-carbon energy framework.Under the contract…

LH2 Shipping has been awarded Enova support of NOK 344,3 million for the development and construction of two additional liquid hydrogen-powered bulk carriers.With the latest award, LH2 Shipping is now involved in the development of six hydrogen-powered bulk carrier projects. The announcement builds on previous Enova-supported vessel initiatives and reflects growing momentum for liquid hydrogen as a viable fuel alternative for short-sea shipping to meet decarbonizing policy goals.The…

NYK, Yanmar Power Solutions and ENEOS have agreed to install a hydrogen fuel cell system on a new dining cruise vessel scheduled to enter service in 2027, as the companies seek to advance the use of hydrogen in the maritime sector.The vessel will replace Lady Crystal, which currently operates in the Tennoz Isle area of Tokyo as part of the NYK Group's passenger cruise business.Under the project, Yanmar Power Solutions will design the hydrogen fuel cell system, while hydrogen storage…

The UK-flagged research vessel Prince Madog has received certification for a hydrogen fuel cell retrofit, following approval by Lloyd’s Register (LR) under its ShipRight Risk Based Certification (RBC) framework. The certification was presented at Seaworks 2026 in Southampton.The project, delivered by vessel owner O.S. Energy’s Naval Architecture and R&D office in collaboration with hydrogen and clean energy systems specialist Ecomar Propulsion, included the development of the vessel’s gaseous hydrogen storage system and the detailed integration design of the associated fuel cell…

During the three-year period from March 2024 to February 2027, the Emsdetten-based companies BEN-Tec GmbH and H2 POWERCELL GmbH are working together with the Münster University of Applied Sciences to advance the use of environmentally friendly hydrogen technologies.As part of the "NRW Innovation Tour 2026" of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia, the BOOST research status was presented to the Deputy Prime Minister…

DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook Hydrogen to 2060 report explains why hydrogen won’t be the next LNG.LNG emerged to monetize geographically concentrated natural gas resources and move energy from a small number of exporting regions to distant markets. Hydrogen, by contrast, will be produced in all regions, predicts DNV.As a result, hydrogen systems are shaped primarily by local production, demand patterns, and balancing requirements rather than by global resource scarcity. Moreover…

DNV has released a new recommended practice (RP) for hydrogen as ship fuel. It outlines the competence requirements for crew, inspectors, and technical personnel to support the proper handling of hydrogen systems on board ships.Hydrogen is gaining traction as a marine fuel, with seven vessels currently in operation and another 30 in the orderbook. However, several safety barriers like hydrogen leakage, low ignition energy, and management of high‑pressure or cryogenic storage, still limit its uptake.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced the shortlisted projects for Round 2 of the Hydrogen Headstart Program, marking a major step forward in scaling Australia’s renewable hydrogen industry. The projects selected to progress to the next stage in the application process are some of the most advanced large-scale renewable hydrogen proposals in the country, spanning multiple states and a range of end uses, including ammonia and alternative fuels.The Australian…

EnergyPathways has signed a collaboration agreement with Associated British Ports (ABP) to evaluate the Port of Barrow in northwest England as a location for onshore facilities linked to its Marram Energy Storage Hub (MESH) project.The AIM-listed company said the MESH project, located in the Irish Sea, is expected to combine compressed air energy storage with natural gas and hydrogen storage using subsea salt caverns.According to EnergyPathways, the project has the potential to support up to 60 subsurface salt caverns and is targeted to begin operations in 2031…

Clean hydrogen production is expected to grow 100-fold by 2060, driven by energy security concerns and large-scale expansion in China, according to a new forecast from classification society DNV.In its latest report, Energy Transition Outlook 2026: Hydrogen to 2060, DNV said global hydrogen volumes are expected to grow by 170% by 2060, supported by cumulative investment of $3.2 trillion.China is forecast to account for 35% of new hydrogen production and demand growth over the period…

A consortium led by the University of Vaasa has been awarded Horizon Europe funding for the H4PERION – Hydrogen FOR Performance Enhancement and Reliable Ice OperatioN – project which aims to demonstrate how a large vessel can operate with a hydrogen‑capable internal combustion engine.Long‑distance shipping remains one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. Ships operating for weeks at a time need enormous amounts of energy and absolute reliability – requirements that today’s batteries…

The European Commission has successfully closed the first round of activities of the Hydrogen Mechanism operated under the EU Energy and Raw Materials Platform. Market participants currently developing hydrogen projects (on both supply and demand side) responded with high engagement, showing great appetite for this new initiative and the development of the hydrogen market.During this first round, the Hydrogen Mechanism gave future producers of hydrogen a transparent and easy way to test demand for their specific projects and find potential offtakers…

RINA has granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) to ST Engineering Marine for a retrofit concept involving a hydrogen-powered fuel cell system on a fast passenger ferry.The approval covers the replacement of one auxiliary diesel generator on the Asean Raider I ferry with a hydrogen fuel cell system supported by lithium-ion batteries.The concept is designed to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining safety, performance and regulatory compliance, RINA said.The assessment was conducted…

Gotland Horizon X is a 130-meter, 18,300-gt, 1,500-passenger, 400-car, 30-knot catamaran now under construction at Austal for delivery in summer 2028. Positioned as hydrogen-ready from day one, the vessel is not a technology demonstrator. It is a frontline Ro-Pax ferry designed to maintain timetable integrity while opening a credible pathway toward hydrogen. For ports and fuel suppliers, that distinction matters. Horizon X is less about a single vessel and more about what it signals: future-fuel ships are coming that will demand corresponding evolution ashore.Jonas Moberg…

The European Resilience Alliance for Clean Hydrogen & Derivatives (ERA) was officially launched at the European Parliament in Brussels on April 14.ERA is a pan-European, CEO-led initiative uniting leading industrial companies across the clean hydrogen value chain to address Europe's energy challenges, enhance industrial competitiveness, and secure strategic autonomy in the face of rapidly changing geopolitical and industrial pressures.ERA’s founding members include ENAGÁS, FLUXYS…

Many claim to have ‘saltwater in their veins,’ but all you have to do is walk into the corner office of John McDonald, the new Chairman and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), to see that him saying “I was born into maritime” is not hyperbole. The first thing that greets you is a Dusan Kadlec nighttime painting of the Brooklyn Bridge, a painting that has special meaning to him as he fondly remembers being on a boat in New York harbor in 1983, his father USCG Captain of the Port of New York at that time, watching the fireworks over the bridge for the celebration.

Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, is deepening its collaboration with Microsoft to help make it easier for industrial companies to modernize their operations, break free from proprietary legacy systems and deploy AI-powered automation at scale.A Collaboration Built to End Legacy DragThe Schneider Electric collaboration with Microsoft combines Schneider Electric’s role as a global energy technology partner and pioneer of open, software‑defined automation with Microsoft Azure cloud, AI, and edge infrastructure.

Japan’s Japan Engine Corporation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have begun hydrogen co-firing operations on a full-scale main engine designed for large commercial vessels, marking a step toward the development of hydrogen-powered shipping.The work forms part of a government-backed project under New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, with participation from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), MOL Drybulk, Onomichi Dockyard and ClassNK.The companies said the engine…

Fincantieri has launched what it says will be the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship. Viking Libra was floated out at the company’s Ancona shipyard in Italy and is being built for cruise operator Viking, with delivery scheduled for late 2026.At approximately 54,300 gross tons and 239 meters long, the ship will accommodate up to 998 passengers across 499 cabins, consistent with Viking’s small-ship positioning. The vessel will feature a hybrid propulsion system incorporating liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells, enabling zero-emission operations in certain conditions.

lomarlabs has entered a collaboration with Blaze Energy to pilot a third-generation, compact, engine-integrated fuel reformer designed to accelerate the practical adoption of alternative fuels in commercial shipping.The collaboration will culminate in a pilot installation onboard a Lomar vessel, enabling Blaze Energy to validate its multi-fuel reforming system, under real marine operating conditions. The Flex-Fuel Reformer converts ammonia, methanol, or LNG into hydrogen directly onboard the ship…

DNV has completed a multi-year study commissioned by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) examining the safety implications of using hydrogen as a fuel in ships.The study, titled Safety of hydrogen for use in ships, concludes that hydrogen-fuelled vessels require a design-based safety approach and recommends the use of secondary enclosures across all hydrogen-carrying components, including those located on open deck.Hydrogen is increasingly being considered as a potential marine fuel, although broader adoption is expected to take time.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Obayashi Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Chiyoda Corporation have established the Japan–New Zealand Hydrogen Corridor. The consortium will study the commercialization of green hydrogen production in New Zealand and export operations to Japan.Hydrogen is expected to play a key role as a clean energy source that does not emit CO2 when burned. Japan has a low energy self-sufficiency rate, and renewable energy accounts for only a limited share of total energy consumption.For this reason…