The MARPOWER project, funded by the European Union, brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of 11 expert organizations to develop a next-generation energy conversion system based on gas turbine technology. Designed for use aboard marine vessels, this innovative system integrates electricity generation and cogeneration to maximize energy efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and facilitate the adoption of alternative, net-zero fuels.
MARPOWER addresses key technological domains including turbomachinery, advanced combustion processes, energy conversion, gas turbines, bearing technologies, heat recovery, digital twin development, shipbuilding, and systems integration, contributing directly to the decarbonization and modernization of the maritime sector. The University of Vigo plays a central role in this effort through its leadership in digital modelling and system validation.
A reference in research, innovation, and sustainability in the marine energy sector
As one of Spain’s leading public universities, the University of Vigo brings its dynamic, research-driven vision to the MARPOWER project. With three specialized campuses in the region of Galicia, northern Spain, the university fosters a multidisciplinary environment focused on excellence in teaching, research, and knowledge transfer. Its flagship Campus do Mar (“Sea Campus”), a cross-border network of over 3,000 researchers, positions the institution at the forefront of marine science and technology.
The university offers over 120 official degrees and master’s programs, alongside doctoral studies and international dual degrees. With core values grounded in sustainability, equality, transparency, and social commitment, the University of Vigo actively promotes innovation with a strong focus on applied science and societal impact.
High-impact research through the Energetic Technology Group
At the heart of the University of Vigo’s contribution to MARPOWER is the Energetic Technology Group (Grupo de Tecnología Energética, GTE), a highly productive and award-winning research team specializing in thermal systems, combustion processes, and digital engineering. Comprising over 25 researchers, GTE combines experimental studies and advanced simulation techniques to address critical challenges in renewable energy, efficiency, and industrial innovation. GTE’s research spans a broad range of topics, from renewable energies such as biomass and biofuels, to energy storage and synergistic use of multiple energy sources. The group is also heavily involved in process optimization and development of pilot plants, applying cutting-edge tools like computational fluid dynamics (CFD), machine learning, and digital twin technologies. Their work extends into industrial processes, biomedical engineering, building simulation, and even motorsport engine performance.
Leadership in digital simulation and system validation
The University of Vigo leads Work Package 3, dedicated to the development of a comprehensive digital platform for the simulation and validation of the MARPOWER Energy Conversion System (MECS). At the heart of this effort is the creation of a dynamic and high-fidelity Digital Twin (DT) of the full energy system – a physics-based model that replicates the behaviour of a two-spool recuperated gas turbine integrated with a bottoming cycle.
The foundation of this work involves integrating a wide range of physical and virtual data sourced from experiments, simulations, and validated reference materials. Provided by consortium partners, this data will be used to characterize key system components, including compressors, turbines, recuperators, combustion chambers, magnetic bearings, generators, and waste heat recovery boilers. Each component will undergo individual analysis to ensure precise performance prediction. The University of Vigo is specifically responsible for the detailed development of a full-scale virtual prototype of the recuperator, using real test data to anchor the model in validated physical behaviour.
Following the component-level characterisation, the University of Vigo will develop a fully integrated Digital Twin (DT) of the MECS, designed with advanced modelling capabilities to capture the system’s full operational complexity. The DT will simulate both steady-state and transient performance across a wide range of conditions, supporting multiple control strategies – whether autonomous, semi-autonomous, or externally managed – and enabling real-time performance monitoring and optimisation.
A key innovation in the Digital Twin is its ability to model the system’s fuel flexibility in detail. It will assess the effects of varying carbon-neutral and zero-carbon fuel types and compositions on combustion dynamics, turbine efficiency, thermal behaviour, and emissions output. By accounting for differences in ignition properties, energy density, and pollutant formation, the DT will provide critical insights into how alternative fuels influence system behaviour under different operational modes. This capability is essential to evaluating the trade-offs and operational strategies needed to support the maritime sector’s transition to low-carbon and renewable fuels.
Together, these features make the Digital Twin a robust and versatile tool for predictive analysis, control development, and strategic planning, ensuring that the MECS can adapt effectively to evolving regulatory, environmental, and fuel availability conditions.
Designed for compatibility with the SimulationX platform, the Digital Twin will enable seamless integration into a virtual marine environment for future testing and validation. It will also be used to simulate critical transient events, such as startup, shutdown, and load shifts. For example, during startup, the model must account for reduced compressor efficiency at low speeds; during load changes, it will simulate variations in fuel flow and their effect on turbine inlet temperature and system dynamics. Emergency shutdown scenarios will be particularly demanding to model, due to risks such as rapid shaft overspeed and thermal shock – especially relevant in multi-spool architectures and systems with high thermal inertia.
Through this work, the University of Vigo is delivering a robust, adaptable, and fuel-flexible digital modelling framework. This Digital Twin will serve as a vital tool for system assessment, control strategy development, and operational planning – laying the groundwork for smarter, cleaner, and more resilient maritime energy solutions.
In addition to its leading role in developing the Digital Twin and system validation tools, the University of Vigo also contributes to several other key areas within the MARPOWER project. These include supporting the definition of system requirements, contributing to the design and integration of core components, participating in the prototyping and experimental testing of critical subsystems, and helping assess the final system’s compliance with relevant maritime regulations and standards. This broad technical involvement highlights the university’s comprehensive expertise and its vital contribution to the success and applicability of the MARPOWER Energy Conversion System.
Research team
The MARPOWER project at the University of Vigo is driven by a distinguished team of thermal engineering specialists:
- Dr. Eng. Jacobo Porteiro Fresco, Full Professor and WP3 leader.
- Dr. Eng. David Patiño Vilas, Full Professor.
- Dr. Eng. José L. Míguez Tabarés, Full Professor.
- Dr. Eng. Sergio Chapela López, Assistant professor.
- Dr. Eng. Miguel A. Gómez Rodríguez, Associate Professor.
- Eng. Iván Aviñoá Paradela, Researcher specialized in modelling and digital twins.
Taking a central role in the MARPOWER project, the University of Vigo is advancing innovation in digital system modelling and validation for next-generation maritime energy systems. Combining deep academic expertise with advanced simulation capabilities, the university is helping lay the groundwork for more efficient, sustainable, and intelligent marine power solutions, reinforcing its position as a leader in applied research and technological advancement in the energy sector.