On-demand hydrogen generation to support growing demand for cleaner onboard power in the yacht sector

e1 Marine, a leading developer of advanced hydrogen generation technology for the maritime and port sectors, has announced a further commercial project in the marine leisure and superyacht market, supplying methanol-to-hydrogen reformer technology to support PowerCell Group’s M2Power 250 system onboard a large yacht. The installation, rated at 0.5 MW, is part of a retrofit program, with delivery planned for 2027.

The announcement forms part of PowerCell’s 43 MSEK order for the M2Power 250 methanol-to-power platform from a European shipyard. Each 250 kW module integrates e1 Marine’s M30 methanol-to-hydrogen reformer with PowerCell’s marine fuel cells to generate hydrogen on demand for clean electrical power. Designed to replace traditional marine diesel gensets, the integration eliminates the need for compressed hydrogen storage while enabling quiet, low-emission operation.

Dave Lee, Executive Director, e1 Marine, commented: “This project represents an important milestone for e1 Marine, building on our earlier collaboration with PowerCell and marking our second commercial project supporting the marine leisure and superyacht markets. Larger yacht builders are increasingly looking for practical ways to cut emissions and improve onboard environmental performance without compromising reliability, range, or sailing experience. On-demand hydrogen generation from methanol provides a compelling pathway to do just that, and we’re pleased to collaborate with PowerCell to provide the yachting sector with greater choice of high-performance, lower-emission energy options.”

The project builds on the ongoing collaboration between e1 Marine and PowerCell to deliver fully integrated reformer-fuel-cell solutions for maritime applications through the M2Power 250 system. Within this, e1 Marine’s technology generates fuel cell-grade hydrogen (≥99.97% purity, ISO 14687 compliant) onboard from a methanol-and-water feedstock blend for direct use in fuel cells, producing only water and heat as by-products, with the latter offering potential for recovery and onboard use where appropriate.

Based on third-party lifecycle assessments, e1 Marine’s methanol-to-hydrogen systems can deliver significant greenhouse-gas emission reductions compared with conventional marine diesel – from 10-27% with grey methanol to as much as 85% using green methanol – alongside reductions of more than 99% in regulated local air pollutants such as NOx, SOx, particulate matter, CO and hydrocarbons.

Richard Berkling, CEO, PowerCell Group, said: “The order confirms market interest in our methanol-to-power platform. The M2Power 250 offers shipowners a practical way to reduce emissions in existing vessels and supports the accelerating shift toward cleaner auxiliary and propulsion power.”

e1 Marine’s methanol-to-hydrogen systems are designed to generate hydrogen onboard and on demand, making them well-suited to larger yachts and leisure vessels seeking flexible, lower-emission solutions that integrate within existing fuel and storage arrangements. Because methanol is a liquid at ambient conditions and increasingly available as a marine fuel, it enables the benefits of hydrogen fuel-cell power without relying on dedicated hydrogen bunkering or high-pressure storage. The same technology can also support applications across workboats and short-sea vessels under 2,000 GT, port and terminal equipment, and as a containerized, grid-independent source of clean energy for ports and yards.

Lee added: “One of the key strengths of methanol-to-hydrogen reforming is its versatility. This project shows how the technology can meet the specific operational and experience-driven demands of larger yachts today, while also offering a scalable pathway that can support other maritime segments as decarbonization progresses.”