The port of Alcudia has been the site—for the first time in the Balearic Islands—of a green hydrogen refueling of a recreational boat in a real-world port setting. The event featured Dhamma Blue, a pioneering Spanish company in the manufacture of hydrogen-powered boats, which carried out the demonstration with the support of the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB).
The operation was carried out using the DHB-P01, Spain’s first hydrogen-powered recreational boat, via a compact refueling dispenser designed by the German engineering firm Argo-Anleg, which specializes in this technology. The green hydrogen used comes from Lloseta (Mallorca), where it is produced by Power to Green Hydrogen Mallorca, thereby closing the entire hydrogen cycle for maritime mobility on the island: production, distribution, and consumption.
The refueling station, located next to Alcudiamar Marina Resort, will remain in operation until September 27, when the DHB-P01 will conduct zero-emission sailing trips and new in-port refueling demonstrations.
The Port Authority’s Commitment to the Environment
The event featured a presentation by Jorge Martín Jiménez, director of the APB’s Operations and Environment Division, who outlined the agency’s environmental strategy and its plans to develop a hydrogen ecosystem on the islands. The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Balearic Energy Institute, professionals specializing in port infrastructure design, and investors interested in the decarbonization of maritime transport.
Among the objectives of the APB’s environmental strategy are reducing the environmental impact of maritime traffic and promoting more efficient energy alternatives; according to its own data, the organization has managed to reduce CO₂ emissions by 645 metric tons between 2021 and 2024.
“This project confirms that hydrogen for maritime applications is already a reality. Dhamma Blue has led, coordinated, and funded this initiative, bringing together the necessary stakeholders to make the first refueling of a vessel with green hydrogen in Mallorca possible,” explains Robin Imaz, co-founder of Dhamma Blue and the project’s technical lead.
A regulatory framework that drives the sector forward
Philippe Esposito, president and co-founder of Dhamma Blue and DH2 Energy (one of the largest developers of renewable hydrogen in Spain), highlighted during the conference the role of the new European and Spanish regulatory frameworks in reducing transportation emissions. “Starting this summer, Spain has taken a very important step by incorporating into its national regulations the European targets for reducing emissions and promoting sustainable fuels established by the RED III Directive. This framework also includes cabotage shipping and establishes a set of targets that will begin to drive new solutions for maritime transport,” he noted.
Hybrid propulsion and quiet navigation
The DHB-P01 features a hybrid propulsion system that combines an electric motor with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell. This configuration provides a range of approximately 65 nautical miles at 12 knots, with a maximum speed of 28 knots. On board, hydrogen combines with oxygen in the fuel cell to generate electricity, resulting in quiet, emission-free navigation.
Dhamma Blue is already working on new applications for this technology, with the goal of expanding it to other segments of the maritime transport sector, such as passenger transport, water taxis, and workboats and support vessels.