Hanwha Aerospace gains Korean Register approval for 200 kW marine hydrogen fuel cell

Hanwha Aerospace has secured type approval from Korean Register (KR) for its 200-kilowatt marine hydrogen fuel cell system, advancing its plans to supply commercial vessels in South Korea before expanding overseas.

Announcing the development on 10 November 2026, the company described it as South Korea’s first classification society type approval for a marine hydrogen fuel cell and the fifth such approval worldwide. The certification follows testing of the equipment’s performance under marine conditions and an assessment of manufacturing and quality controls.

What does the Korean Register approval cover?

Hanwha Aerospace said the system passed tests simulating vibration and inclination encountered during vessel operations. KR also reviewed the production process and quality management arrangements.

The company reported energy efficiency exceeding 50% at the system’s rated output of 200 kW. It said this performance could support longer operation on a given quantity of hydrogen and reduce fuel consumption.

Hanwha intends to pursue installations on domestic commercial vessels, using the resulting operating experience to support entry into overseas markets and cooperation with foreign shipyards. The announcement did not identify an initial customer vessel or installation schedule.

How has the technology progressed towards commercial use?

The latest certification follows earlier design-stage assessments of Hanwha’s polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology.

In March 2025, the company announced approval in principle from Norwegian classification society DNV for its 200 kW maritime hydrogen fuel cell system. That followed an earlier approval in principle from KR in 2024.

Approval in principle assesses a technology at the basic design stage. The subsequent type approval marks a further step towards supplying a product for marine applications, including assessment of manufacturing arrangements and performance under relevant operating conditions.

At the time of the DNV announcement, Hanwha Aerospace executive director Dong-jo Oh said the company intended to continue collaborating with Hanwha Ocean in the international market for lower-emission vessels. Its stated development scope included both commercial ships and specialised maritime applications.

How do hydrogen fuel cells generate shipboard power?

Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, generating heat and water. Pure hydrogen-powered PEM fuel cells produce no carbon dioxide at the point of operation.

However, a fuel cell stack must be integrated with supporting equipment before it can serve as a shipboard power source. The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) technology guidance identifies compressors, pumps, valves, sensors and controls among the components needed to supply hydrogen, air and coolant.

Depending on the application, the installation also requires equipment such as fuel tanks, power electronics, cooling systems and ventilation. These requirements make vessel integration a separate engineering task from developing and certifying the fuel cell product itself.

What safety requirements apply to vessel installations?

The IMO approved interim guidelines for ships using fuel cell power installations in April 2022. Their objective is to provide safety and reliability comparable with conventional oil-fuelled main and auxiliary machinery.

The guidelines address the arrangement and installation of fuel cell power systems, irrespective of the particular fuel cell technology or fuel used. They also require risk analysis for new or altered concepts and configurations, recognising that safety depends on the complete installation.

Lloyd’s Register’s updated guidance, issued in 2025, similarly addresses integration with ship controls, thermal management, maintenance, redundancy and risk assessment. It also considers degradation and performance over the equipment’s service life.

For Hanwha, the next commercial stage will therefore involve combining its approved system with vessel-specific engineering and operational validation as it seeks domestic reference projects and overseas customers.