Wärtsilä Installs 'Unique' Hybrid Power System on Paolo Topic Bulk Carrier
Finland-based marine tech group Wärtsilä said Tuesday it had installed and commissioned a unique hybrid power system combined with a PV solar energy system in collaboration with Marfin Management and Solbian, onboard the Paolo Topic bulk carrier.
Wartsila said that the new features make the Paolo Topic "one of the most technologically advanced vessel of its type in the global fleet."
The Paolo Topic is a bulk carrier built in 2016 at the Onomichi Dockyard in Japan and managed by Marfin Management S.A.M.
The innovative, fully integrated Wärtsilä HY Module solution includes an energy management system and batteries that deliver auxiliary power to the grid.
When coupled with other sources of energy such as PV panels the benefits are enhanced, Wartsila said.
"It will address the marine sector’s major challenges to lower operating costs while simultaneously reducing environmental impact. The solution achieves this through significant reductions in fuel consumption and maintenance needs while offering cleaner, safer, and more efficient operations. It also contributes to placing the vessel in a positive position regarding the industry’s Energy Efficiency Existing Ship (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) indexes," Wartsila added.
"This installation represents a truly significant breakthrough in enabling the bulker fleet to increase both its economic competitiveness and environmental performance. The decarbonization of shipping is a major priority for stakeholders throughout the maritime sector, and this unique solution helps us take a long step towards reaching this goal,” says Giulio Tirelli, Director, Business Development, Wärtsilä Marine Power.
According to Wärtsilä, its HY Module for Bulkers is a compact containerized solution that cuts a vessel’s emissions by optimizing the onboard power production, consumption, and management.
The HY module gives the possibility to combine and integrate an energy storage system and additional energy sources, such as solar power, with Wärtsilä’s highly sophisticated Energy Management System (EMS) to deliver auxiliary power. The EMS has overall control of the engines, batteries, power distribution, and with the installation of solar panels on the weather deck it's a maritime industry first, the company said .
The containerized solution has been placed on the ship’s deck to save space and has been installed without the need for dry-docking.