Award highlights port hydrogen shift

The award recognises the growing role of hydrogen-based energy systems in supporting port decarbonisation, port electrification and wider maritime sustainability goals through scalable low-carbon energy infrastructure.

“Ports around the world are facing increasing demand for clean electricity, yet many are constrained by limited grid capacity and long infrastructure delivery timelines,” said Luke Jenkinson, founder and group CEO of ELIRE Group.

”Our Hydrogen Power Hubs provide a practical pathway forward by enabling ports to deploy clean, resilient and scalable power systems today using technologies that are commercially available and proven.”

Increased demand

ELIRE Maritime’s Hydrogen Power Hubs are modular hydrogen-powered microgrids that integrate hydrogen production, storage, power generation and intelligent energy management into a deployable energy platform.

The systems are designed to help ports, harbours, marinas and waterfront facilities overcome grid capacity constraints and reduce reliance on lengthy utility infrastructure upgrades.

They address increasing demand for clean electricity driven by electrified vessels, shore power systems and energy-intensive terminal operations.

By operating independently of traditional grid infrastructure, the Hydrogen Power Hubs provide long-duration energy storage and resilient low-carbon power for locations where electrical infrastructure is limited or unavailable.

The integrated energy systems store renewable energy in the form of hydrogen before converting it back into power when required, enabling operators to manage intermittent renewable generation while maintaining continuous power for critical maritime applications.

ELIRE Maritime said hydrogen infrastructure is becoming increasingly important for supporting alternative fuels, shore power, charging infrastructure, terminal operations and wider maritime energy resilience as ports pursue net-zero targets.

In May, ELIRE Maritime completed a UK-backed programme validating its grid-independent hydrogen power hub.

The six-month CMDC6 programme was delivered by Innovate UK in partnership with the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE).

Consortium partners included Ricardo UK, Schneider Electric, Triton Anchor Europe, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and the University of Strathclyde.