Norway Approves PBES Lithium Energy Storage
Plan B Energy Storage (PBES) said its marine energy storage system has received approval for use in electric and hybrid vessels in Norway, having met the new Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) standard.
The lithium-ion battery manufacturer PBES, who uses the proprietary CellCool cooling and E-Vent ventilation systems, tested its energy storage system at its Trondheim facility on June 17, 2016. The test attempted to force overcharge the batteries into a thermal runaway situation and was prevented by the PBES safety systems. The batteries passed all tests with no uncontrolled thermal event, no fire and no explosion. The NMA has therefore accepted the propagation tests, performed in line with propagation test 1 in circular RSV 12t 2016.
An unbiased organization, NMA is the administrative and supervisory authority in matters related to safety of life, health, material values and the environment on vessels flying the Norwegian flag and foreign ships in Norwegian waters. The NMA is also responsible for ensuring the legal protection of Norwegian registered ships and registered rights in those ships.
“Norwegian Maritime Authority approval is the most important validation PBES could receive,” said Brent Perry, chief executive of PBES. “The recognition by an organization like NMA shows the world that the safe deployment of lithium energy storage is no longer a goal, it is here today.”
