What’s New
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Brunel University London and Genuine H2 have started a project to extract hydrogen from seawater directly onboard ships using electrolysers. The produced hydrogen will be stored and used as an eco-friendly marine fuel.
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The process is fully closed-loop: besides fuel, it generates distilled water that can be reused or safely discharged back into the sea.
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The project received over £1 million in funding from the UK Department for Transport and Innovate UK under the Clean Maritime program.
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Land-based testing has already begun, and the demonstration phase will continue until March 2026.
Why It Matters
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The shipping industry faces pressure to drastically cut CO₂ emissions, and producing fuel directly onboard could reduce reliance on traditional bunkering and fuel logistics.
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The technology uses an almost unlimited resource — seawater — opening possibilities for autonomous ship energy systems.
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If technical and regulatory hurdles are overcome, this could be a breakthrough for sustainable marine energy.
Challenges Ahead
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Low efficiency: seawater electrolysis still consumes significant energy.
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Corrosion issues: seawater is highly corrosive, demanding advanced protective materials.
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Storage safety: onboard hydrogen storage poses serious challenges related to pressure, temperature, and safety systems.
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Regulation: new systems must comply with International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules and certification procedures.
Interesting Fact
Brunel University’s hydrogen research program is also exploring hydrogen engines and energy systems for heavy marine applications. (brunel.ac.uk)
