Batteries News

Stena Line has announced the concept for a new generation vessel: Stena Futuro, a 240-meter-long roro intended for transporting semi-trailers and cars.The hull and superstructure have been optimized to achieve the most efficient use of cargo space possible. At the same time, low weight and optimized hydro- and aerodynamics are central to achieving low fuel consumption.In addition to the vessel’s design, Stena Futuro will be equipped with technology to limit its environmental footprint.

On the current pathway, global shipping greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are forecast to rise in this decade and eventually return to 2010 levels by ~2050.The chart represents the three scenarios for shipping emissions developed by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and adds in the IMO Strategy targets for emissions reduction. The IEA’s aspirational case (i.e. what governments and companies aspire to do rather than are actually doing – that is the current pathway) closely mirrors the IMO’s 2023 updated strategic direction.

AYK Energy was contracted to manufacture and supply the 6MWh battery that will power the world’s first battery-methanol tug, to be built at Uzmar for Svitzer. This is AYK’s first contract with Uzmar. The 6MWh battery-powered tug is planned to be deployed in Gothenburg and provide zero-emission services across a quarter of Svitzer’s operations in the Swedish port. The tug is based on Svitzer’s TRAnsverse tug design and the battery will be supported by dual fuel methanol engines…

Kongsberg Maritime has secured a project to convert the double ended car ferry MF Hamlet to emission-free battery powered operation.The ferry, operated by Öresundlinjen, on the route between Helsingør, Denmark, and Helsingborg, Sweden, will see a major upgrade including installation of large battery packs and new permanent magnet motors for the azimuth thrusters.The primary goals of the project include achieving zero emissions, enabling full electric operation with batteries, and having mechanical propulsion redundancy.The ferry will utilize high-voltage charging in port…

Corvus Energy has secured Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register (LR) for its Dolphin NxtGen marine battery system. The LR Type Approval confirms that the energy storage system (ESS) complies with the most stringent rules, regulations, and safety requirements in the industry, as defined by one of the leading maritime class societies. The Corvus Dolphin NxtGen Energy design features draw on the Corvus Orca ESS, which the company claims is the world’s most widely installed marine battery system.These include passive single-cell Thermal Runaway (TR) isolation and a TR gas exhaust system.

AYK Energy has completed the installation and sea trials for the second Brittany Ferries vessel to feature the biggest marine battery ever built.AYK installed the 12 megawatt-hours (MWh) Orion+ battery into Brittany Ferries Guillaume de Normandie hybrid electric ferry after installing the same battery system aboard its sister ship Saint-Malo at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard Weihai. The vessel has now completed its sea trials and is heading to Britain, where it will operate the Portsmouth – Caen route.

Since entering service in 2015, the all-electric ferry MF Ampere has sailed the equivalent of 17 times around the equator on batteries alone.Despite a chorus of critics and skeptics in during the project, a decade later, Ampere continues to showcase the potential of electric technology, tech that has been emulated in ferries globally.It all started with the Ampere and the Norwegian Public Road Administration's decision to require sustainable technology onboard the newbuild destined to transport passengers and vehicles across the Sognefjord on Norway's west coast.

Germany-based Lehmann Marine, a developer of maritime lithium ferrophosphate (LFP) battery systems, has secured a type approval from Lloyd's Register for its CUBE compact energy storage solution, paving the way for its broader adoption across the maritime industryThe certification marks the fourth major classification society to approve the CUBE battery system, following Bureau Veritas, DNV, and RINA. The Lloyd’s Register type approval further underlines Lehmann Marine‘s flexible battery modules‘ reliability, paving the way for increased adoption in the maritime industry.

Corvus Energy will deliver a mega-size battery system for the first fully electric offshore vessel ever to be built. The vessel is an electric Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (eCSOV) that will be constructed by Armon shipyard in Spain for UK-based shipowner Bibby Marine Ltd.For the project, Corvus Energy will supply its Blue Whale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) delivering close to 25MWh of power for the vessel. According to Corvus, it will be the largest LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery system ever delivered to a maritime project.Unique…

Germany-based Lehmann Marine, a leader in maritime lithium ferrophosphate (LFP) battery systems, signed an agreement with the Greek Sunlight Group, a member of the Olympia Group, which has more than 30 years experience in the production of lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. Under the agreement, Sunlight will acquire a 51% stake in Lehmann Marine.“This partnership is a transformational step for both companies,” said Alexander Lehmann, Managing Director of Lehmann Marine. “Partnering…

CMA CGM will build and deploy a zero emissions inland transport solution in Vietnam, a solution the company says is a "100% green electricity barge coupled with dedicated charging infrastructures" supplied by a new solar farm at Gemalink terminal in Cai Mep (25% owned by CMA CGM Group). A new dedicated solar farm on the premises of Gemalink will produce 1GWH of green electricity annually to recharge the e-barge.From Binh Duong Province to the deep-sea terminal of Gemalink, the e-barge will make the 180 km return journey emitting zero greenhouse gas emissions…

The U.S. Department of Energy's loans office said on Friday it has finalized a loan of $1.3 billion to ENTEK Lithium Separators to finance a plant in Indiana for making lithium-ion battery separators used mostly in electric vehicles.WHY IT'S IMPORTANTThe Loan Programs Office is racing to finalize billions of dollars in loans to companies developing cutting-edge technologies expected to help speed an energy transition and curb climate change.The loan was offered conditionally in July through the LPO's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, which that has $40 billion in direct lending authority.It is uncertain whether…

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has cited survey failings in the results of its investigation into the loss of propulsion control and subsequent contact with a moored barge by Oceandiva London.On June 22, 2023, the inland waterways passenger vessel lost propulsion control and contacted a moored hopper barge at Halfway Reach on the River Thames, London. Oceandiva London was undergoing propulsion trials as part of its Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) survey required…

Norwegian shipowner Rem Offshore has hired Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) to deliver a deck-based battery energy storage system to its Rem Inspector construction support vessel (CSV). NES, specializing in sustainable energy design and smart control systems for vessels, will deliver a containerized energy storage system that includes a Quest battery charger, a 1 MW battery package, and a control system.The system is capable of operating in peak shaving, spinning reserve and harbor…

Industry group CIMAC and the Maritime Battery Forum have published the first of three white papers on the use of batteries in deep-sea shipping.This first paper, Environment for the use of batteries in deep-sea shipping: Use cases and application areas, demonstrates the potential for battery usage even though a fully battery-powered, zero-emission application is not yet available.Currently, vessels on order include hybrid propulsion vehicle carriers and oil/chemical tankers. Installations typically vary between 350kWh and 2,847 kWh.

Sweden-based marine batteries manufacturer Echandia announced it will open a production facility in Washington State in response to quickly-growing demand for maritime electrification products in the United States.Designed and certified for maritime use, Echandia's lithium-ion based battery systems are currently in use aboard tugs and ferries as commercial vessel owners and operators increasingly turn to hybrid and full electric vessels to reduce emissions.“The U.S. market holds immense strategic importance for us…

Ottomotive Tech has joined the global community of maritime battery enablers, the Maritime Battery Forum.Founded in 2021, Ottomotive Tech gives support for products, engineering and consultancy in different sectors such as maritime, automotive, telecommunication and energy storage systems. The company’s expertise comprises of system engineering from scratch to pre-serial production, followed by production, test, homologation and delivery processes of requested products. Their…

DFDS said it will invest $1.2 billion in six battery electric vessels for operation in the English Channel, to be deployed on the Dunkirk-Dover and Calais-Dover routes to carry passengers and freight between the U.K. and the European Union.The first two electric vessels will be in operation by 2030, while the rest are expected to follow before 2035, the company said.“This is an important step towards decarbonizing cross-Channel transport," said Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS.In April…

Damen Shipyards has launched the second of its fully electric RSD-E Tugs 2513 at Damen Song Cam Shipyard.The tug is being built for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, together with five conventional RSD Tugs 2513.When delivered later this year, it will be the first fully electric tug to operate in European waters.The port was one of the first to operate a conventional RSD Tug 2513 following Damen’s release of the vessel onto the market in 2018.The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of the busiest in Europe…

Imoto Lines and Marindows have outlined plans to build the next generation zero-emission domestic container ship capable of hybrid operation using Japan's first exchangeable container batteries, alongside onboard batteries and generators.The joint project between the companies aims to address three major challenges of the maritime industry - decarbonization, crew shortage, and safe navigation.The three-year project is supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Government of…

The industry consortium behind the Ocean Charger project, led by Vard, has completed the demonstration of the charging solution in a port as well the connection solution offshore, proving the technology designed to supply clean power to offshore wind vessels is ready for the market.By connecting vessels to the power grid in the wind farm and charging batteries regularly, the Ocean Charger solution is securing availability of emission-free vessel operations.The Ocean Charger has proved through the tests that it can power operations at the field without using any additional energy sources…

Bakker Sliedrecht has implemented energy storage systems (ESS) on board of the two Boskalis diving support vessels - BOKA Atlantis and BOKA Da Vinci.The installation of the ESS reduces the vessels’ fuel consumption and associated carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by an average of up to 20%, according to Bakker Sliedrecht.The systems also provide a power supply and energy storage facility while the vessels are docked and contribute to quieter and more efficient operations…

ClassNK has issued a type approval certificate for the lithium-ion storage battery system ORCA Energy, developed by Corvus Energy.Following an application from Corvus Energy, ClassNK carried out an examination of ORCA Energy based on the rule and the ‘Guidance for the Approval and Type Approval of Materials and Equipment for Marine Use’.The guidance applies to tests and inspections of materials and equipment for marine use for which advance approval or type approval by ClassNK is required by the relevant requirements in its rules.Upon confirming it complies with the prescribed requirements…