Generator vs Fuel Cell + Battery vs Generator + Battery, TCO, Endurance, Peak Support & Zero-Emission Operation

Marine Fuel Cell vs Generator vs Battery Hybrid TCO, Endurance & Power-Sizing Tool

Compare three shipboard power architectures against the same electrical mission: conventional generator-only, fuel-cell plus battery, and generator plus battery hybrid. Size continuous source power, battery kW and kWh, zero-emission endurance, fuel endurance and lifecycle cost. Advanced mode replaces the quick duty estimate with operating-mode rows and full fuel, replacement, shore-power, carbon and safety assumptions.

Data type
Currency
Currency selection changes display only. No exchange-rate conversion is performed.
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Need much more depth? Click Advanced above. Add an operating-mode register, actual generator/fuel-cell ratings, fuel storage and LHV, battery usable window, shore charging, overhaul and stack replacement, lifecycle GHG, battery mass/space, NPV and class/safety readiness.

Fast Architecture & TCO Screen

Simple mode uses direct operating-cost and installed-cost inputs so it does not invent fuel prices, SFOC, fuel-cell fuel type or market CAPEX. Hidden Simple sizing assumptions are disclosed in the result: 15% source reserve, 80% usable battery energy, 90% battery round-trip efficiency and 0.5 h peak-support duration.

kW.
kW.
h/year.
kW supplied from battery during the required battery-only window.
hours.
Selected currency / MWh delivered.
Selected currency / MWh delivered.
Selected currency / kW.
Selected currency / kW, including project-defined balance of plant if desired.
Selected currency / kWh installed.

Vessel Power Mission

years.
kW.
% applied to generator-only peak sizing.
kW.
hours.

Operating Load Profile

Each row is an annual operating mode. Hybrid battery energy is sized from the largest single-mode source-power deficit plus all battery-only energy entered for that mode. Row labels are not submitted to Ship Universe Tool Data.

Operating modeLoad kWHours / dayDays / yearBattery-only mode?

Generator-Only Baseline

g/kWh at relevant average plant loading.
Selected currency / t.
Selected currency / kW.
Selected currency / MWh generated.
running hours.
per overhaul event.
t.
gCO₂e/MJ fuel, project basis.
MJ/kg, used for lifecycle GHG energy basis.

Fuel Cell + Battery Architecture

kW net continuous electrical output.
% after balance-of-plant parasitics.
MJ/kg. Enter the actual fuel / reformate system basis.
Selected currency / t.
Selected currency / kW.
Selected currency / MWh generated.
running hours.
Selected currency / kW fuel-cell rating.
t.
gCO₂e/MJ fuel, project supply-chain basis.

Generator + Battery Hybrid

kW.
% user-entered SFOC improvement from optimized loading / start-stop strategy.
% of annual delivered electrical energy.
Selected currency / kWh.
gCO₂e/kWh.

Battery Sizing & Lifecycle

%.
% held outside planned usable energy.
%.
%.
Selected currency / kWh.
Selected currency / kW battery power.
%.
Selected currency / kWh installed / year.
Wh/kg at complete installed-system level.
kWh/m³ at complete installed-system level.

Economic & Project Assumptions

Selected currency / tCO₂e.
%.
%.
years.
Architecture screening only: this tool is not a class-approved electrical design, power-management study, load-flow study, short-circuit / selectivity study, fuel-cell room design, hydrogen or low-flashpoint fuel safety assessment, battery thermal-runaway analysis, ventilation calculation, hazardous-area classification, emergency-power compliance assessment or transient-stability study. Final architecture must use OEM performance data, actual vessel duty cycles and the applicable IMO, flag and class requirements.
Safety / class context: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1647 provides interim safety guidelines for ships using fuel-cell power installations and states that fuel-specific requirements such as the IGF Code or other applicable fuel guidelines may apply in addition. IMO's 2026 work programme continues development of the safety framework for battery-powered ships; current projects should therefore verify the applicable class and flag basis rather than assume a generic statutory battery rule. DNV's current battery and hybrid framework includes Battery Safety / Battery Power class services, while its July 2026 rule edition introduced a Battery ready notation for future installations. IMO Future Fuels Safety Guidelines · IMO Battery Safety Workplan · DNV Battery & Hybrid Ships
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