Unipart will play a key role in an Innovate UK-funded £1.4m project to develop clean energy generator technology for remote locations where grid supply is challenging.
Project SERRMA (Sustainable Energy Resilience in Rural Maritime Applications) is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UKSHORE) programme in the Department for Transport. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the main delivery partner for UK SHORE interventions. The project is a collaboration between seven industry partners to develop and test a first-of-its-kind, prototype hydrogen fuel cell generator, which will be built at Unipart’s manufacturing site in Coventry.
This initiative marks Unipart’s first major venture into the maritime sector, applying its manufacturing and electrification expertise to support the UK’s clean shipping transition. Led by product owner Hixal, the project will develop, test, and trial the Hixapod unit at a port in Anglesey, UK. The grant was won by Innovate UK as part of the Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 6, which funds feasibility studies into clean maritime technologies and skills that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Hixapod unit integrates hydrogen fuel cells, battery storage, advanced liquid-cooled power electronics, and a machine learning-based energy management system to provide grid-independent power up to 500 kW. Unlike existing systems, Hixapod is modular, portable, and designed for harsh coastal conditions. It delivers smart charging, cold ironing, and bi-directional energy flows (port-to-vessel and vessel-to-port), supporting diverse use cases including vessel turnaround, port electrification, and EV charging.
In building the prototype hydrogen fuel cell generator at its Coventry manufacturing facility, Unipart will showcase its electrification systems assembly expertise, design-for-manufacture expertise, and volume production capabilities.
Graham Giles, Unipart Engineering Manager – Innovation, said: “Hydrogen fuel cell generators are truly critical to decarbonise power generation in the UK, especially for rural and challenging environments like maritime. We are immensely proud to be building this first-of-its-kind prototype at our Coventry manufacturing site. It showcases Unipart’s deep expertise in electrification systems assembly, design-for-manufacture, and volume production. Our ability to industrialise such cutting-edge solutions, particularly in the marine sector, is vital for building clean energy resilience right here in the UK.”
Carol Rose-Burke, Unipart Managing Director – Design, Manufacturing and Engineering, said: “For Unipart, this project is key to building our capabilities, diversifying our operations, and strategically entering the vital coastal and marine sectors. Leveraging our industrial expertise to develop advanced hydrogen power generation units demonstrates our absolute commitment to delivering clean energy resilience in demanding new environments.”
Darren Leigh, Unipart CEO, said: “At Unipart, we are committed to leveraging our manufacturing and innovation expertise to create future-fit and more sustainable supply chains. This project, which sees us developing a first-of-its-kind maritime hydrogen fuel cell generator, is a perfect example of our strategy in action. We are incredibly proud to be at the heart of this UK clean energy technology innovation, applying our capabilities to a new sector and contributing to the decarbonisation of our maritime industry.”