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Marine Fuel Cell Technology: Latest Advances and Prospects
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Marine Fuel Cell Technology: Latest Advances and Prospects

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Ocean Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 April 2026 | Viewed by 9717

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Daan Cui

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Marine Engineering and Thermal Science, Marine Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Interests: marine fuel cell technology; metal energy storage battery; Hydrogen production by electrolysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yulong Ji

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Marine Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Interests: hydrogen powerd ship; thermal management; energy management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine fuel cell technology has emerged as a promising solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency in the maritime industry, which is facing increasing pressure to transition towards cleaner and more sustainable operations.

Recent research has focused on the development of high-efficiency fuel cells, advanced catalysts, and optimized system designs, as well as the integration of fuel cells with other renewable energy sources and energy storage systems to achieve more efficient and sustainable marine operations.

This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances and prospects in marine fuel cell technology, covering fundamental research, technological developments, and practical applications, to facilitate the understanding and development of this emerging field.

We request original research papers, review articles, and case studies that contribute to the advancement of marine fuel cell technology, including but not limited to fuel cell system design and optimization, fuel cell materials and catalysts, system integration and testing, and life cycle assessment.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Daan Cui
Prof. Dr. Yulong Ji
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • design and optimization of maritime fuel cell system
  • impact of the marine environment on marine fuel cells
  • fuel cell materials and catalysts
  • fuel cell system integration and testing
  • life cycle assessment
  • energy management
  • PEMFC
  • SOFC

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 978 KB  
Article
An IPSO-RC-Based Study on Dynamic Coordination Excitation and Optimal Capacity Allocation for Marine Hybrid Energy Systems
by Huanbo Liu, Yi Guo, Yayu Yang and Bing Han
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(11), 2197; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13112197 - 19 Nov 2025
Viewed by 334
Abstract
As a pivotal element in the maritime sector’s green transition, fuel-cell-powered ships have attracted increasing attention due to the energy efficiency and stability of their onboard powertrains. Yet, the dynamic coordination and capacity optimization of fuel cells and supercapacitors remain among the most [...] Read more.
As a pivotal element in the maritime sector’s green transition, fuel-cell-powered ships have attracted increasing attention due to the energy efficiency and stability of their onboard powertrains. Yet, the dynamic coordination and capacity optimization of fuel cells and supercapacitors remain among the most formidable technological challenges. In this study, a hybrid marine power system pairing fuel cells with supercapacitors is devised by integrating robust control with a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The results reveal that, under complex operating conditions, robust control effectively mitigates system uncertainties and secures reliable operation of the ship’s energy system. Optimally allocating component capacities via PSO markedly enhances the synergy between the fuel cell and the supercapacitor. Compared with conventional schemes, optimized architecture boosts energy efficiency by 12.5%, shortens response time by 8.4%, and demonstrates clear superiority in robustness and stability. This robust-control-based hybrid configuration therefore delivers outstanding performance and offers compelling guidance for the refined design of marine propulsion systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Fuel Cell Technology: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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33 pages, 4618 KB  
Article
Reliability and Risk Assessment of Hydrogen-Powered Marine Propulsion Systems Based on the Integrated FAHP-FMECA Framework
by Meng Wang, Fenghui Han, Huairui Li, Jingkai Zhou and Zhe Wang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(11), 2115; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13112115 - 7 Nov 2025
Viewed by 548
Abstract
With the IMO’s 2050 decarbonization target, hydrogen is a key zero-carbon fuel for shipping, but the lack of systematic risk assessment methods for hydrogen-powered marine propulsion systems (under harsh marine conditions) hinders its large-scale application. To address this gap, this study proposes an [...] Read more.
With the IMO’s 2050 decarbonization target, hydrogen is a key zero-carbon fuel for shipping, but the lack of systematic risk assessment methods for hydrogen-powered marine propulsion systems (under harsh marine conditions) hinders its large-scale application. To address this gap, this study proposes an integrated risk evaluation framework by fusing Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) with the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP)—resolving the limitation of traditional single evaluation tools and adapting to the dynamic complexity of marine environments. Scientific findings from this framework confirm that hydrogen leakage, high-pressure storage tank valve leakage, and inverter overload are the three most critical failure modes, with hydrogen leakage being the primary risk source due to its high severity and detection difficulty. Further hazard matrix analysis reveals two key risk mechanisms: one type of failure (e.g., insufficient hydrogen concentration) features “high severity but low detectability,” requiring real-time monitoring; the other (e.g., distribution board tripping) shows “high frequency but controllable impact,” calling for optimized operations. This classification provides a theoretical basis for precise risk prevention. Targeted improvement measures (e.g., dual-sealed valves, redundant cooling circuits, AI-based regulation) are proposed and quantitatively validated, reducing the system’s overall risk value from 4.8 (moderate risk) to 1.8 (low risk). This study’s core contribution lies in developing a universally applicable scientific framework for marine hydrogen propulsion system risk assessment. It not only fills the methodological gap in traditional evaluations but also provides a theoretical basis for the safe promotion of hydrogen shipping, supporting the scientific realization of the IMO’s decarbonization goal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Fuel Cell Technology: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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27 pages, 6763 KB  
Article
Capacity Estimation of Lithium-Ion Battery Systems in Fuel Cell Ships Based on Deep Learning Model
by Xiangguo Yang, Jia Tang, Qijia Song, Yifan Liu, Lin Liu, Xingwei Zhou, Yuelin Chen and Telu Tang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(6), 1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061168 - 13 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 852
Abstract
The capacity estimation of lithium-ion batteries, serving as an auxiliary power source in fuel cell vessels, is crucial for ensuring system stability and enhancing operational efficiency. Accurate capacity estimation technology not only helps extend battery lifespan but also enhances the energy management and [...] Read more.
The capacity estimation of lithium-ion batteries, serving as an auxiliary power source in fuel cell vessels, is crucial for ensuring system stability and enhancing operational efficiency. Accurate capacity estimation technology not only helps extend battery lifespan but also enhances the energy management and scheduling capabilities of the entire vessel. To address the challenge of accurately estimating lithium-ion battery capacity under complex operating conditions, this study extracts universal health factors from battery data under varied charging and discharging scenarios and combines these with a deep learning model to enhance prediction accuracy. First, battery data from three complex conditions are analyzed, extracting partial charge and discharge data. The distance correlation coefficient calculates the correlation between each factor and the capacity sequence, informing the priority of universal health factors. A TCN-BiGRU model is then developed, with hyperparameters determined by the Kepler optimization algorithm (KOA). Cells from a battery pack under consistent conditions are used for training, while other cells in the same pack serve as the test set. Evaluation metrics include mean absolute error (MAE) and root-mean-square error (RMSE). The testing shows that the MAE and RMSE for full-life capacity estimation remain around 1%, with most cells achieving values under 1%. The results indicate that the proposed method effectively aids in accurate capacity estimation for individual cells in complex operating environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Fuel Cell Technology: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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41 pages, 5521 KB  
Article
Integrated Approach to Ship Electrification Using Fuel Cells and an Ammonia Decomposition System
by Onur Yuksel, Eduardo Blanco-Davis, David Hitchmough, G Viknash Shagar, Andrew Spiteri, Maria Carmela Di Piazza, Marcello Pucci, Nikolaos Tsoulakos, Milad Armin and Jin Wang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(5), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13050977 - 18 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2276
Abstract
This study investigates the environmental and economic performance of integrating a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, battery systems, and an organic Rankine cycle-based waste heat recovery system for ship electrification. The analysis examines an onboard ammonia decomposition system for hydrogen production and ammonia [...] Read more.
This study investigates the environmental and economic performance of integrating a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, battery systems, and an organic Rankine cycle-based waste heat recovery system for ship electrification. The analysis examines an onboard ammonia decomposition system for hydrogen production and ammonia production pathways. Additionally, the study benchmarks the effectiveness of onboard ammonia decomposition against green hydrogen bunkering scenarios (H2-BS). The analysis is based on data collected over two years from a bulk carrier provided by Laskaridis Shipping Co., Ltd. The environmental analysis includes well-to-wake emissions calculations. At the same time, economic performance is assessed through levelised cost of energy (LCOE) computations for 2025 and 2040, factoring in different fuel and carbon price scenarios. Consequently, the analysis utilises the Complex Proportional Assessment method to compare configurations featuring various ammonia production pathways across economic cases. The results indicate that green and pink ammonia feedstocks achieve maximum equivalent carbon dioxide reductions in the electrification plant of up to 47.28% and 48.47%, respectively, compared to H2-BS and 95.56% and 95.66% compared to the base scenario. Ammonia decomposition systems prove more economically viable than H2-BS due to lower storage and fuel costs, leading to competitive LCOE values that improve under higher carbon pricing scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Fuel Cell Technology: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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27 pages, 5726 KB  
Article
RUL Prediction for Lithium Battery Systems in Fuel Cell Ships Based on Adaptive Modal Enhancement Networks
by Yifan Liu, Huabiao Jin, Xiangguo Yang, Telu Tang, Jiaxin Luo, Lei Han, Junting Lang and Weixin Zhao
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(2), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13020296 - 5 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1503
Abstract
With the widespread application of fuel cell technology in the fields of transportation and energy, Battery Management Systems (BMSs) have become one of the key technologies for ensuring system stability and extending battery lifespan. As an auxiliary power source in fuel cell systems, [...] Read more.
With the widespread application of fuel cell technology in the fields of transportation and energy, Battery Management Systems (BMSs) have become one of the key technologies for ensuring system stability and extending battery lifespan. As an auxiliary power source in fuel cell systems, the prediction of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of lithium-ion batteries is crucial for enhancing the reliability and efficiency of fuel cell ships. However, due to the complex degradation mechanisms of lithium batteries and the actual noisy operating conditions, particularly capacity regeneration noise, accurate RUL prediction remains a challenge. To address this issue, this paper proposes a lithium battery RUL prediction method based on an Adaptive Modal Enhancement Network (RIME-VMD-SEInformer). By incorporating an improved Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) technique, the RIME algorithm is used to optimize decomposition parameters for the adaptive extraction of key modes from the signal. The Squeeze-and-Excitation Networks (SEAttention) module is employed to enhance the accuracy of feature extraction, and the sparse attention mechanism of Informer is utilized to efficiently model long-term dependencies in time series. This results in a comprehensive prediction framework that spans signal decomposition, feature enhancement, and time-series modeling. The method is validated on several public datasets, and the results demonstrate that each component of the RIME-VMD-SEInformer framework is both necessary and justifiable, leading to improved performance. The model outperforms the state-of-the-art models, with a MAPE of only 0.00837 on the B0005 dataset, representing a 59.96% reduction compared to other algorithms, showcasing outstanding prediction performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Fuel Cell Technology: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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Review

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59 pages, 16255 KB  
Review
Research Progress of Fuel Cell Technology in Marine Applications: A Review
by Zheng Zhang, Xiangxiang Zheng, Daan Cui, Min Yang, Mojie Cheng and Yulong Ji
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(4), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13040721 - 3 Apr 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3332
Abstract
With the increasing severity of global environmental issues and the pressure from the strict pollutant emission regulations proposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the shipping industry is seeking new types of marine power systems that can replace traditional propulsion systems. Marine fuel [...] Read more.
With the increasing severity of global environmental issues and the pressure from the strict pollutant emission regulations proposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the shipping industry is seeking new types of marine power systems that can replace traditional propulsion systems. Marine fuel cells, as an emerging energy technology, only emit water vapor or a small amount of carbon dioxide during operation, and have received widespread attention in recent years. However, research on their application in the shipping industry is relatively limited. Therefore, this paper collects relevant reports and literature on the use of fuel cells on ships over the past few decades, and conducts a thorough study of typical fuel cell-powered vessels. It summarizes and proposes current design schemes and optimization measures for marine fuel cell power systems, providing directions for further improving battery performance, reducing carbon emissions, and minimizing environmental pollution. Additionally, this paper compares and analyzes marine fuel cells with those used in automotive, aviation, and locomotive applications, offering insights and guidance for the development of marine fuel cells. Although hydrogen fuel cell technology has made significant progress in recent years, issues still exist regarding hydrogen production, storage, and related safety and standardization concerns. In terms of comprehensive performance and economics, it still cannot effectively compete with traditional internal combustion engines. However, with the continued rapid development of fuel cell technology, marine fuel cells are expected to become a key driver for promoting green shipping and achieving carbon neutrality goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Fuel Cell Technology: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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