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Fuel Cell Power Systems for Maritime Applications: Hybrid Architectures, Energy Management and Deployment Challenges

Le Li, Shuhan Huang, Feng Yan
Frontiers in Science and Engineering, (2026), Vol.6, No.7, pp.1-7
Published: July 21, 2026
DOI: 10.54691/s2abyz71
PDF: Download Full Text PDF
Abstract

The decarbonization of maritime transport is accelerating the transition from conventional diesel-based propulsion to low- and zero-emission power systems. Fuel cells are increasingly regarded as a promising option for ferries, inland vessels, harbor craft, research vessels and other mission-defined ships because they convert chemical energy into electricity with high efficiency, low acoustic signatures and zero local carbon emissions when operated on hydrogen. Nevertheless, their deployment at sea remains constrained by slow transient response, stack degradation, hydrogen storage volume, safety requirements, cost and the availability of bunkering infrastructure. For these reasons, most practical fuel-cell ship concepts adopt hybrid configurations in which fuel cells are coupled with batteries, supercapacitors or diesel generators. This review summarizes recent progress in maritime fuel-cell power systems from four interrelated perspectives: fuel-cell technologies and shipboard architectures; hybridization and energy management; hydrogen storage, vessel integration and safety; and life-cycle emissions and commercialization barriers. Particular attention is paid to fuel-cell/battery systems, multi-stack power allocation, health-aware control and real-time energy management strategies. The review argues that future research should move beyond feasibility demonstrations and fuel-saving-oriented control toward integrated design frameworks that combine state-aware fuel-cell operation, degradation mitigation, mission-based sizing, safety-by-design and well-to-wake environmental assessment. Such an approach is essential for translating fuel-cell vessels from pilot projects into reliable and economically viable components of maritime decarbonization.

Keywords: Fuel cell ships; hydrogen; hybrid propulsion; energy management; PEMFC; battery storage; shipboard microgrid; maritime decarbonization.
APA Citation: Le Li, Shuhan Huang, Feng Yan (2026). Fuel Cell Power Systems for Maritime Applications: Hybrid Architectures, Energy Management and Deployment Challenges. Frontiers in Science and Engineering, 6(7), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.54691/s2abyz71

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