ELIRE Maritime and consortium partners Ricardo UK, Schneider Electric, Rux Energy UK, Triton Anchor Europe, OREC (Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult), and the University of Strathclyde, today announced the successful completion of the UKRI-funded Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition Round 6 (CMDC6) programme, a £1 million feasibility program and initiative delivered by Innovate UK in partnership with the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), part of the UK Department for Transport.
The programme successfully validated one of the world’s first fully grid-independent Hydrogen Floating Power Hub systems capable of delivering clean power directly to vessels at berth without requiring traditional shore-side grid infrastructure. The consortium demonstrated that large vessels can realistically be powered at berth today using existing hydrogen, battery, fuel cell, and electrical technologies integrated into a modular floating maritime system designed for rapid deployment across global ports.
The solution can now be deployed and would be expected to support the reduction of up to 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions globally over the next decade through scalable maritime clean energy infrastructure capable of operating independently from constrained port grids.
“Ports are under increasing pressure to decarbonise while facing major infrastructure constraints,” said Luke Jenkinson, Founder and CEO of ELIRE Maritime. “The Hydrogen Power Hub proves that ports do not need to wait years for grid upgrades to begin reducing emissions. We have validated a practical, scalable, and deployable system capable of delivering clean power directly where it is needed most.”
The Hydrogen Power Hub establishes a new category of maritime infrastructure by moving energy and power generation as well as storage onto water rather than relying on fixed, land-based systems constrained by grid access, cost, permitting, and land availability.
At full configuration, this particular validated system is capable of delivering 5MW of continuous clean power output directly to vessels at berth, enough to support medium-sized cruise vessels and other large maritime assets requiring both 6.6kV and 11kV shore power connections. This system integrates three modular hexagonal floating platforms with a combined 1,200 sqm footprint, approximately 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 consortium confirmed 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.
“Think of it as charging a giant floating battery throughout the week and then releasing that energy rapidly when the vessel arrives,” said Jenkinson. “That changes the economics and deployment model for maritime electrification.”
The solution also incorporates onboard solar generation capable of contributing up to 146kW of renewable power, reducing overall hydrogen consumption and improving efficiency.
The six-month CMDC6 programme included extensive hydrodynamic, structural, electrical, and operational validation activities.
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.
Ricardo UK and Rux Energy UK validated the hydrogen-to-power systems, integrating modular low-pressure hydrogen storage with hybrid fuel cell technologies and power systems.
Schneider Electric engineered and validated the fully grid-independent electrical architecture, including grid-forming inverter systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) capable of delivering stable utility-grade power across both 50Hz and 60Hz networks.
The programme confirmed that the complete system, hydrogen generation, storage, battery integration, electrical architecture, and floating infrastructure, operates cohesively as a deployable maritime energy to power solution.
The Hydrogen Power Hub addresses one of the most significant bottlenecks facing global port decarbonisation: 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.
Traditional 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 HFPH bypasses these barriers and provides ports with a significantly faster pathway to decarbonisation.
“Ports do not simply need lower-cost energy, they need energy infrastructure they can actually deliver,” said Jenkinson. “This is not about replacing the grid. It is about delivering clean power where the grid cannot.”
Feasibility-stage emissions analysis led by Ricardo UK demonstrated 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 analysis indicates that this energy to power profile solution could eliminate approximately 47 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per vessel per week, equivalent to approximately 2,444 tonnes annually per vessel under current operation, while also significantly reducing NOx, SOx, and particulate emissions through the elimination of diesel engine operation during berth stays.
The emissions modelling incorporated conservative lifecycle assumptions, including hydrogen production via renewable-powered electrolysis, storage and transport losses, fuel cell operational leakage, and additional bunkering losses, reinforcing the credibility of the emissions reduction outcomes.
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 emphasised 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 £0.25–£0.50/kWh, compared to conventional shore power ranging between approximately £0.15–£0.25/kWh. However, the consortium believes future reductions in hydrogen pricing, manufacturing scale, modular standardisation, and system optimisation could significantly improve commercial competitiveness over time.
The modular system is also designed to eliminate stranded asset risk through relocatable infrastructure capable of moving with future market demand. Beyond shore power applications, the infrastructure can support offshore operations, logistics infrastructure, port electrification, offshore wind integration, transportable hydrogen supply chains, defence applications, and future maritime energy networks.
ELIRE Maritime is now progressing discussions for similar and larger scale deployments from the UK to Australia and Europe, with each deployed system expected to deliver between GWh of clean energy annually.
The consortium believes the programme demonstrates that the future of maritime energy is not simply about lower-cost electricity, but about faster deployment, lower infrastructure risk, and flexible systems capable of adapting as global energy markets evolve.
Rather than inventing entirely new energy technologies, the project successfully integrated proven hydrogen, battery, and electrical systems into a smarter maritime infrastructure model capable of solving one of the most critical bottlenecks facing global ports today.
ELIRE Maritime and consortium partners are now seeking further collaboration with ports, infrastructure investors, vessel operators, hydrogen suppliers, policymakers, and strategic deployment partners to accelerate commercial deployment of grid-independent energy systems worldwide.
ELIRE Maritime – This venture specialises in modular, scalable, multipurpose maritime platforms that are commercially viable and engineered to support the integration of clean energy and electrification of the maritime & shipping sector, accelerating net zero goals.
Key Validated Outcomes
- 5MW continuous clean power output validated
- ~91MWh weekly energy delivery capability
- ~77% CO₂ emissions reduction at berth validated
- ~47 tonnes CO₂ saved per vessel, per week
- ~2,444 tonnes annual CO₂ reduction per vessel
- ~45MWh integrated battery storage system
- ~7,500–8,000kg hydrogen usage per week
- 6.6kV and 11kV vessel compatibility confirmed
- Fully grid-independent operation demonstrated
- Three modular floating platforms validated
- ~1,200 sqm modular floating footprint
- Wave tank testing completed by the University of Strathclyde
- Mooring and anchoring feasibility validated
- Multi-platform interconnectivity confirmed
- Utility-grade AC/DC electrical architecture validated
- No major deployment barriers identified
- Estimated 62TWh annual global addressable market
- Expected deployment timeline significantly faster than traditional shore power
- Potential to support up to 500,000 tonnes of global CO₂ reduction over the next decade
- Early deployment discussions progressing in London, Singapore, Hamburg, Brisbane, and Riga
The project leveraged a multidisciplinary consortium:
- ELIRE Maritime – Creator of the Smarthub platform and Powerhub concept, leading project management, naval architecture, electrical and maritime systems engineering, platform integration, and commercial equipment sourcing. Primary route to market for the integrated solution.
- Rux Energy UK – Developed low-cost, safe, high-density hydrogen storage using nanoporous materials, responsible for end-to-end gas handling and exploiting storage solutions beyond the Powerhub. Pre-sales secured 40 systems generating £15M annual revenue from 2028.
- Ricardo UK – Global engineering and consultancy partner, developing hydrogen conversion systems, electrical monitoring and control, and providing market intelligence on fuel cell and reciprocating engine solutions.
- Schneider Electric – Industrial electrical technology expertise, designing AC-connected microgrids, renewable integration, BESS management, and providing supply chain access for LV/MV equipment.
- Triton Anchor Europe – Developed cost-effective multi-helix mooring solutions, flexible seabed design, and underwater tooling for platform deployment.
- Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC) – Technical development of floating renewable systems, hydrogen compression and storage concepts, and enabling H2 transportation logistics.
- University of Strathclyde – Academic partner in naval architecture and electrical engineering, hydrodynamic testing, DC microgrid design, and cost glidepath analysis.
- Sealand Projects – Engineering consultancy for transport and installation (T&I) planning of floating marine assets.
This combination of partners ensures both technical and commercial readiness, addressing regulatory, safety, and deployment challenges globally.
Source: ELIRE Maritime
