Professors from the CEUC lead project on sustainable maritime transport with green hydrogen

Academics Javier Pereda and Felipe Huerta, from the UC Energy Center, were awarded the project “Sustainable Maritime Transport: Control, Operation, and Optimal Propulsion of Green Hydrogen-Powered Vessels,” as Principal Investigator and Associate Investigator, respectively. The project director is Professor Andrés Mora from the Federico Santa María Technical University.

The initiative is part of the 2025 Regular Technology Rings Competitions of the National Research and Development Agency (ANID) and addresses the need to advance toward sustainable solutions in maritime transport. It also aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Strategy and the Chilean Navy's Continuous National Shipbuilding Plan.

The project aims to develop a comprehensive framework for the optimal operation of green hydrogen-powered vessels, incorporating advanced microgrid architectures, efficient energy conversion systems, and robust, cyber-resilient control strategies. The goal is to improve operational efficiency, increase flexibility and safety, and contribute to more sustainable navigation through the use of energy storage.

The work is organized into three lines of research:

• Optimal management of energy vectors under uncertainty, including green hydrogen.
• Electrical infrastructure and microgrids on ships.
• Electric propulsion.

The project has the support of the Chilean Navy and the companies Saam Towage and Dhemax, which reinforces its applied focus and its potential impact on the national maritime industry.

To address these challenges, the initiative includes the incorporation of a postdoctoral researcher, electrical engineering professionals, and graduate students, who will contribute to the technical development and subsequent technology transfer of the results.