Genevos has secured €2.2 million in EU funding through MARINER, a €7 million Horizon Europe project focused on developing scalable 1-MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems for maritime applications.

The programme is coordinated by NORCE Research and co-funded by the European Commission through the Clean Hydrogen Partnership.

MARINER will centre on the development and validation of a modular 1 MW containerised fuel cell unit for marine applications. Genevos said the initiative aims to address one of the sector’s key technical challenges: delivering dependable zero-emission power for larger, more energy-intensive ships.

The French company will contribute engineering and delivery of a marine hydrogen fuel cell power system, drawing on its experience in low-temperature PEM integration for shipboard use.

Under the programme, the 1 MW containerised unit will undergo endurance trials for more than 1,000 hours under humid, saline and temperature-variable marine conditions. In parallel, a 200 kW module will undergo accelerated stress testing equivalent to more than 40,000 operating hours.

The consortium will also work on digital twins, diagnostics and health-conscious control strategies to improve monitoring, predictive maintenance and safe load sharing. Other workstreams include safety procedures, lifecycle analysis, total cost of ownership and pathways to Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL 9).

Philippe Davignon, commercial director at Genevos, said: “Decarbonising maritime transport will require solutions capable of supporting demanding duty cycles and higher-power applications. MARINER is important because it focuses on testing, validation and operational evidence. Through this initiative, we will continue to prove that fuel cell power systems offer a durable, safe and highly efficient solution for energy-intensive vessels transitioning to green, sustainable fuels.”

Consortium partners include NORCE Research, ARMINES, Mines Paris, VARD Electro, University of Stuttgart, Lloyd’s Register EMEA, CERTH, Dowel Innovation, Sustainable Energy, CEA, Kiara Nautiki Etaireia, LMG Marin France and Scorpio Ship Management.