Integration requirements for PEM fuel cells based gensets, including an analysis of regulations and industry standards as applicable in different market fields

The present master's thesis was carried out in collaboration with the Politecnico di Torino and Dumarey Propulsion, both located in Turin, Italy, focusing on reviewing and analyzing the standards, codes, and regulations governing the fuel cell gensets and all their sub-systems in different applications and their operational configurations, especially maritime applications. Fuel cells are a promising clean energy solution due to the growing environmental concerns and the need for greenhouse gas emission reduction. The EU’s climate strategy, in line with the Paris Agreement, includes a 55% emission reduction by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050. Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are energy conversion devices that are known for their high efficiency, low emissions, and compact operation. This thesis focuses specifically on containerized PEMFC-based gensets, analyzing their technical architecture and related regulations. The thesis is organized into five sections: 1-Introduction: Presents a short discussion of fuel cells, hydrogen production, properties, storage methods, and the hydrogen policies in Italy. 2-Fuel Cell Genset Architecture: Describes the system structure, including the container, hydrogen and air supply, ventilation, thermal and water management, battery and storage, power electronics, safety and fire systems, and exhaust, and all related sub-systems. 3-PEMFC genset in the stationary applications: This chapter presents the regulatory aspects of the stationary fuel cell gensets and all their sub-systems, like the previous chapter. Also, analyzes demonstration projects such as GROSSHOPPER, EVERYWHERE, and NUVERA. 4-Maritime Applications: Highlights the role of PEMFCs in reducing the maritime sector’s emissions. Currently maritime sector is responsible for about 3% of global CO₂ emissions. In addition to the general RCSs discussed in the previous chapter, this section introduces maritime-specific regulations from IMO, DNV, IGF Code, and SOLAS for all the components of this genset in the marine sector. It also examines real-world projects such as MARANDA (EU), SANDIA (US), and eCap Marine (Italy), providing insight into the integration strategies and technical choices for maritime PEM gensets. It is also worth mentioning that the PEMFC gensets discussed here are intended to operate as auxiliary power units within these applications. 5-A short discussion on the market overview and economic considerations: A brief discussion on the cost of the application and related economic data. 6-Conclusion: This section is divided into two sub-sections. The first, "Technical conclusion", reflects on the main challenges and opportunities related to PEM fuel cell gensets, and discusses possible strategies to unlock their full potential, which is based on my personal considerations. The second part, “General Conclusion,” sums up the main points of the thesis and highlights the importance of clear and consistent regulations and standards for PEMFC genset applications. It also emphasizes the need for innovation and supportive policies to help this clean technology grow and play a real role in reducing global emissions.