'World-first' grid-independent hydrogen power hub for ports
The floating system is reported to deliver clean power directly to vessels at berth without shore-side grid infrastructure.
It integrates three, modular, hexagonal floating platforms with a combined 1,200 sqm footprint, and comprises around 45MWh of battery energy storage capacity, modular fuel cell systems, hydrogen-powered generation, onboard renewable generation, and advanced grid-forming AC/DC electrical architecture.
The system was validated as part of the UK Research and Innovation Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition Round 6 programme, in partnership with the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions. The six-month programme included extensive hydrodynamic, structural, electrical and operational validation activities.
Consortium partners include ELIRE Maritime, Ricardo UK, Schneider Electric, Rux Energy UK, Triton Anchor Europe, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and the University of Strathclyde.
They claim to have demonstrated that large vessels can be powered at berth using existing hydrogen, battery, fuel cell and electrical technologies integrated into a modular floating system designed for rapid deployment across global ports.
At full configuration, it is capable of delivering 5MW of continuous clean power output directly to vessels, enough to support medium-sized cruise vessels and other large maritime assets requiring both 6.6kV and 11kV shore power connections.
The Hydrogen Power Hub seeks to address one of the most significant bottlenecks facing global port decarbonisation i.e. grid access.
Many ports globally remain unable to electrify vessels at scale due to constrained electrical infrastructure, multi-year utility connection delays, land scarcity, permitting complexity and the high cost of traditional shore power systems.
Shore power infrastructure can require between three and seven years or longer to deliver, often involving substation upgrades, grid reinforcement, civil works, and complex permitting procedures. By moving energy infrastructure directly onto water, the hub bypasses these barriers and could provide ports with a significantly faster pathway to decarbonisation.
The consortium confirms that the platform can deliver approximately 91MWh of energy per week, while supporting repeated vessel charging operations without requiring major civil works, land reclamation, or expensive grid reinforcement.
The system uses approximately 7,500-8,000kg of hydrogen weekly, stored within modular ISO-compatible low-pressure storage containers integrated directly into the floating infrastructure.
The current layout accommodates seven onboard hydrogen tanks, with refuelling operations expected approximately twice weekly, enabling ports to adopt hydrogen incrementally without requiring permanent hydrogen infrastructure during early deployment phases.
Instead of relying on oversized generators, the platform uses modular 1.3MW fuel cells operating continuously throughout the week to gradually charge the onboard batteries before rapidly dispatching energy when vessels arrive at berth.
The solution also incorporates onboard solar generation capable of contributing up to 146kW of renewable power, reducing overall hydrogen consumption.
Wave tank testing, conducted by the University of Strathclyde, validated platform stability, structural integrity, motion response, and multi-platform interconnectivity across varying sea states, helping address industry concerns around floating operational reliability.
Triton Anchor Europe completed mooring analysis, anchor system validation, procurement review and installation planning, identifying no major technical barriers to commercial deployment.
Feasibility-stage emissions analysis, led by Ricardo UK, reportedly demonstrates that the system can reduce vessel emissions at berth by approximately 77% compared to conventional onboard diesel generation, even when accounting for hydrogen production, transport, storage and operational losses.
The consortium estimates a global addressable market of approximately 62TWh annually for grid-independent maritime energy solutions, particularly in ports where conventional shore power deployment remains constrained or economically impractical.
While hydrogen-powered systems currently remain more expensive than conventional diesel or grid electricity, the consortium emphasises that the commercial value of the Hydrogen Power Hub lies in deployability, flexibility and infrastructure accessibility rather than short-term energy cost parity alone.
Current demonstrator-scale energy costs are estimated at approximately £0.250-£0.50/kWh, compared to conventional shore power ranging between approximately £0.15-£0.25/kWh. However, future reductions in hydrogen pricing, manufacturing scale, modular standardisation and system optimisation could improve commercial competitiveness over time.
The system is also designed to eliminate stranded asset risk through relocatable infrastructure capable of moving with future market demand.
ELIRE Maritime is now progressing discussions for similar and larger scale deployments from the UK to Australia and Europe.
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