EU project MiNaMi develops long-life fuel cell system for large ships
The MiNaMi project – short for ‘Million Nautical Mile Fuel Cell System’ – is a recently launched EU-funded initiative with a budget of around €7 million. It aims to help the European Union establish a leading role in the development of megawatt-scale PEM fuel cell systems. A key focus of the project is extending the operational lifetime of the fuel cell system. The project officially kicked off in mid-February with a meeting in Espoo, Finland.
“Durability in fuel cell systems is influenced not only by stack technology but also by system integration, control strategies, operating profiles and maintenance concepts,” explains PowerCell, a participant in MiNaMi. “Projects such as MiNaMi are therefore essential for advancing the technology frontier towards ultra-long lifetime operation in demanding maritime environments.”
The project team is not only working on a modular PEM fuel cell system but is also developing the associated power electronics as a key component for systems above 10 megawatts. The aim is to support the electrification of large vessels and other high-power applications, including aviation.
MiNaMi is coordinated by Finland’s Technical Research Centre (VTT) and brings together industrial partners including PowerCell Sweden, DFDS, Vaisala Oyj, ABB Marine & Ports and Allengra, as well as research organisations such as SINTEF, the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) and the Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK). According to the consortium, the partners cover the entire value chain, from technology development to deployment in demanding maritime environments.
PowerCell, an active player in the maritime fuel cell sector, is one of the key participants in the project. In 2025, the company introduced its MS-500 system, which can deliver 500 kW per unit and up to one megawatt of net output when two units are combined. The system is expected to reach market readiness by 2028. According to PowerCell, MiNaMi represents the next step towards achieving ultra-long operating lifetimes for megawatt-scale fuel cell systems.
“Validating operation towards 80,000 hours is not only about endurance. It is about understanding system behaviour, optimisation strategies and lifecycle performance at a deeper level,” said Andreas Bodén, CTO of the PowerCell Group. “The knowledge generated in this project will continuously strengthen both future platforms and our existing product portfolio while supporting the transition to zero-emission shipping.”
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