The collaboration aims to accelerate net-zero shipping by replacing marine diesel with low-carbon methanol-based power systems.
In a major step toward advancing clean energy technologies in the maritime sector, MAIRE’s subsidiary NEXTCHEM and Siemens Energy have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop and commercialize high-temperature methanol fuel cells. The initiative, with an initial focus on the high-end yachting market, represents a pivotal move toward net-zero marine operations and a wider transition to low-carbon fuels.
Under the agreement, NEXTCHEM will design and supply its innovative methanol fuel cell modules, while Siemens Energy will provide onboard integration, complete electrification, and energy management solutions. Together, the companies aim to deliver modular, scalable systems that can displace conventional marine diesel and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The fuel cell technology works by reforming low-carbon methanol back into hydrogen for onboard power generation. This enables vessels to achieve net-zero operations both at anchor and during propulsion, while also eliminating emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides—pollutants strictly regulated in the maritime industry. The collaboration underscores the broader shift within shipping to adopt sustainable energy systems that align with international decarbonization targets.
The first industrial-scale installation of the methanol fuel cell is already in progress and will be deployed on a flagship net-zero yacht currently under construction. By targeting the luxury yacht sector, often an early adopter of cutting-edge innovations, the partners anticipate paving the way for broader adoption across the maritime industry.
Beyond maritime applications, NEXTCHEM’s methanol fuel cell modules are designed for multiple sectors, including stationary net-zero power generation for data centers, industrial processes, and remote or off-grid installations. This modular, flexible approach enhances the potential for methanol to become a cornerstone of the clean energy economy.
Fabio Fritelli, Managing Director of NEXTCHEM, emphasized the strategic significance of the development: “With this highly efficient and modularized fuel cell solution NEXTCHEM will cover the entire value chain of low-carbon methanol, with a unique proposition capable to deliver best-in-class production technologies, while also unlocking additional methanol uses, thus, accelerating demand growth and the establishment of a broader low-carbon methanol economy.”
Echoing this vision, Giuseppe Sachero, Vice President of Oil & Gas and Chemical Solutions at Siemens Energy, highlighted the collaboration’s role in accelerating the energy transition: “This development highlights the unique value of key players in the energy transition value chain. By working together, we capitalize on each other’s expertise and references in adjacent industries. Fuel cells are an integral part of the clean fuels technologies ecosystem, from electrolysis to electricity generation and storage, and are applicable in multiple industrial applications.”
