German shipbuilder Meyer Werft, in collaboration with its consortium partners, has initiated the zero4cruise research project, which focuses on integrating fuel cell technology powered by green methanol as a sustainable energy system for cruise ships. Officially launched on January 24th, 2025, the initiative aims to advance low-emission propulsion solutions for the maritime sector.
The project consortium includes Meyer Werft, fuel cell technology specialist Freudenberg Fuel Cell e-Power Systems, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), represented by the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics and the DLR Institute of Maritime Energy Systems. Together, they are developing large-scale fuel cell stacks and systems that can be implemented on newbuilds and retrofitted on existing vessels to support the long-term decarbonization of the cruise industry.
The proposed hybrid energy system will combine proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells with a methanol reformer and battery systems, allowing ships to operate with carbon-neutral emissions in ports and coastal areas. As part of the project, DLR will focus on the pre-development and testing of fuel cell technology for large maritime applications. Prototype fuel cell stacks of 250 kW (LT-PEM) and 120 kW (HT-PEM) will undergo performance verification in laboratory conditions.
In addition, the DLR Institute of Maritime Energy Systems will conduct long-term trials on a 500 kW maritime fuel cell system, simulating real cruise ship load cycles to assess long-term operational viability. The Maritime Energy Laboratory will also test newly developed LT and HT PEM fuel cell stacks to advance system-level development.
The zero4cruise project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology with funding of EUR 18.7 million.