Reshaping Energy and China State Shipbuilding Corporation Sign Contract to Jointly Promote Large-Scale Application of Marine Fuel Cell Systems

On November 28, at the "2025 CSSC Hydrogen Energy Day" event held in Handan, Hebei, REFIRE officially signed a cooperation agreement for the joint development of marine fuel cell systems with Wuhan Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Industry Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd., which is affiliated with the 712 Research Institute under China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). This collaboration will integrate the core strengths of both parties in hydrogen energy technology and ship engineering, accelerate technological breakthroughs and engineering implementation of marine fuel cell systems, and inject new momentum into the development of green shipping.

According to the agreement, the two parties will engage in in-depth collaboration centered on marine fuel cell systems, focusing on joint product development and coordinated market expansion. On the technical front, efforts will concentrate on addressing the practical operational needs of vessels, overcoming key technical challenges such as the adaptability of fuel cell systems to high-humidity and high-salt environments, dynamic load response, and safety control. At the engineering application level, plans are to leverage CSSC's extensive shipbuilding experience to promote the demonstration and application of cooperative achievements in various vessel types, including bulk carriers, container ships, and harbor tugs, exploring standardized solutions for hydrogen energy technology in the maritime sector. REFIRE had previously established hydrogen energy cooperation in shipping with enterprises such as Qinshi Group; this partnership with CSSC is expected to further refine its layout in the green shipping field, helping to form an industrial closed loop of "technology R&D - product implementation - market promotion."

As one of the partners, CSSC possesses profound accumulation in the hydrogen energy sector. Relying on its scientific research strengths, including the 712 Research Institute, 718 Research Institute, and 725 Research Institute, CSSC has established a comprehensive layout covering the entire hydrogen energy chain of "production, storage, transportation, and use." Among these, the 712 Research Institute has achieved significant results in marine fuel cell systems, having released a 500 kW marine hydrogen fuel cell system as early as 2019. In 2023, it participated in the development of the world's first 500 kW hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship, the "Three Gorges Hydrogen Voyage 1," which successfully completed its maiden voyage. In 2024, it secured a contract for the fuel cell system of a 7,000 horsepower hydrogen-electric tugboat for Qingdao Port, positioning its technical strength and engineering experience at the industry forefront. The Wuhan Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Industry Technology Research Institute involved in this cooperation is precisely an important platform for the 712 Research Institute to integrate hydrogen energy technology resources and promote the commercialization of research outcomes.

During the "2025 Hydrogen Energy Day" event, CSSC also simultaneously launched two new hydrogen energy equipment products: an "Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolyzer" and a "50 MPa Hydrogen Storage Cylinder Bundle for Hydrogen Refueling Stations," further demonstrating its technical reserves across the entire hydrogen energy industry chain. As the world's largest shipbuilding group, CSSC's cooperation with REFIRE not only represents a key move in its hydrogen energy "use"-side layout but is also expected to leverage its scale advantages in shipbuilding to promote the transition of hydrogen energy technology from demonstration applications to large-scale adoption. According to estimates, if the marine fuel cell system developed through cooperation achieves a 10% penetration rate in the existing orders of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), it could reduce ship carbon emissions by over 2 million mt annually.

A representative from Refire Energy stated that this collaboration will fully leverage CSSC's standardization experience in ship engineering and combine it with their own technical expertise in fuel cell system integration to jointly develop a marine hydrogen energy solution that meets the environmental protection standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The two parties plan to complete the development of the first 200 kW marine fuel cell system prototype and conduct real-ship testing within 2026, with commercial mass production expected by 2027.

Industry experts pointed out that the global shipping industry is accelerating its transition towards green and low-carbon development, and the IMO has set a clear target of reducing carbon emissions in the shipping industry by 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. As an important direction for zero-carbon power, marine fuel cells face challenges such as cost control and infrastructure support. The collaboration between Refire Energy and CSSC, through a strong alliance of "technology + manufacturing," will effectively lower the industrialisation threshold for marine fuel cells, providing support for China to gain a competitive edge in the global green shipping race. As the cooperation deepens, it is expected that within the next 3-5 years, China's marine fuel cell market size will exceed 5 billion yuan, promoting hydrogen energy as one of the core technological pathways for decarbonising the shipping industry.