The aerospace company announced on Friday that it has been selected by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to conduct a research and development project for 200-kilowatt-class hydrogen fuel cell power packs for ships.
"We will expand the technology we acquired through the development of hydrogen fuel cells for aviation into the maritime sector," said Moon Seung-hak, head of Hanwha Aerospace's electric propulsion system division, in a press release.
The initiative aims to enter the global eco-friendly ship market by combining the technologies of the aerospace company and the shipbuilder.
"By synergizing with the clean ocean technology from Hanwha Ocean, we plan to develop the world's top-notch hydrogen fuel cells for ships and provide carbon-free ship solutions," Moon said.
Previously, the two companies jointly developed energy storage systems (ESS) in the megawatt-hour class that can be applied to large liquefied natural gas carriers (LNGCs) and very large crude carriers (VLCCs).
Domestic shipbuilders have strived to adopt fuel cell technology. In 2021, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries partnered with AVL, an Austrian mobility technology firm, to develop hydrogen fuel cells for ships by 2025.