Scientists have built a diesel reformer for what they describe as the world’s largest reformer-fuel cell system, which can turn fuel into hydrogen-rich gas to generate 25 kilowatts (kW) of electricity for ships.

The technology was created by the Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems (IMM) in Mainz, Germany. Funded by Germany’s Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM), it is part of the DIMARIT research project, which focuses on fuel cell power generation for maritime applications.

The system could allow ships to generate electricity without the need for separate hydrogen storage tanks. The team plans to exhibit the reformer at the Hydrogen Technology World Expo in Hamburg from October 20 to 22, 2026.

According to the team, the technology could also be useful for military operations because it produces less noise and heat. “The reformer converts the onboard fuel into a gas that, after further processing, supplies the fuel cell,” the researcher said.

Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction that combines hydrogen and oxygen without combustion. Unlike conventional engines, they generate electricity without burning fuel.

However, supplying them with hydrogen can be difficult, particularly aboard ships where space is limited. What’s more, hydrogen requires dedicated storage tanks, which take up valuable space and add complexity to onboard power systems.

The team’s reformer solves this problem by converting diesel stored onboard into hydrogen-rich gas. The gas then undergoes further processing before it can be used by the fuel cell. As a result, the fuel cell can generate power without storing hydrogen separately.

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