PowerCell joins €17m GAMMA project for green shipping
PowerCell Group has joined the European GAMMA initiative to advance hydrogen-powered, zero-emission shipping. Funded with €17 million through Horizon Europe, the project will test how hydrogen fuel cells and climate-neutral fuels can transform deep-sea shipping.
The five-year program is led by Icelandic engineering company Verkís and includes 16 European partners such as ANT Topic, Fraunhofer, Aurelia, Sea Green Engineering, Energy Cluster Denmark, SINTEF, and Politecnico di Milano.
Richard Berkling, CEO of PowerCell Group, said: “GAMMA allows us to move from theory to real-world demonstrations. This operational experience will reduce risks and unlock large-scale deployment of hydrogen technology in shipping.”
A full-scale testbed for green technologies
GAMMA – short for Green Ammonia and Biomethanol fuel Maritime Vessels – will retrofit a 60,000 DWT bulk carrier from TOPIC Fleet. The vessel will replace fossil fuel generators with hydrogen fuel cell systems.
PowerCell Group will provide a 1 MW-class fuel cell to generate electricity from hydrogen derived from green methanol and ammonia. Integrating this system into the ship’s auxiliary power setup will test real-world performance, safety, durability, and system integration in deep-sea conditions.
Hydrogen fuel cells for long-range shipping
Batteries can work for short trips, but deep-sea vessels need more energy and endurance. Hydrogen fuel cells, using methanol or ammonia, offer a scalable solution for zero-emission power.
GAMMA will produce operational data on efficiency, reliability, safety, and maintenance. These insights will help regulators, shipowners, and yards understand how to implement green technologies safely and efficiently.
Learning from full-scale demonstrations
Projects like GAMMA are crucial in an industry where vessels often operate for decades. Hands-on testing gives stakeholders real experience with fuel cells, onboard reforming, and hydrogen carriers.
This practical knowledge reduces adoption risks and speeds up the rollout of green shipping solutions.
Decarbonising shipping for a sustainable future
Shipping currently accounts for nearly 3% of global CO₂ emissions, a figure expected to rise without intervention. Green technologies like hydrogen fuel cells, ammonia, and methanol provide practical ways to cut emissions while keeping vessels operationally efficient.
By testing these technologies on large, operational ships, GAMMA moves the industry closer to climate-neutral shipping. The project also sets the stage for future regulations and commercial adoption.
With GAMMA, Europe is taking a major step toward operationally viable, zero-emission shipping.
