Combustion engine-driven generator sets remain essential in many battery-electric propulsion systems. However, they are no longer just for the traditional provision of auxiliary electricity or primary propulsion. The role of gensets has evolved significantly to include tasks such as emergency backup power, range extension, and/or hybrid operation modes. In addition, the adoption of DC grid electrical architectures has eliminated the constraint of fixed nominal generator frequencies, creating substantial opportunities for the optimization of both power density (reduced weight and installation dimensions) and fuel efficiency. This presentation examines how the integration of electrification technologies with strategically deployed combustion gensets, using smart concepts such as variable speed and permanent magnet generators, and also increasingly fuelled by renewable sources such as HVO or Methanol, can provide a pragmatic pathway toward maritime decarbonization while maintaining operational flexibility and safety redundancy.