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Category: Articles

  • North America’s first electric fishing boat?

    A boat manufacturer in the Gaspésie region is working to design an electric fishing boat, which would be the first in America.

    Below is a translated excerpt from an article released in French by Stephanie Gendron in the Journal De Quebec, published on February 25, 2017. Read full article at www.journaldequebec.com

    “Technology exists, batteries exist, electric motors exist, all that remains is to integrate them into a fishing boat”, says the president of Ocean Marine, Danny Boyle.

    The company wants to meet this challenge by the 2018 fishing season. At start-up phase, six jobs will be created.

    “For fishermen, the first advantage of a ship that runs on electricity is the absence of noise. This problem, which can be harmful in the long run and can create hearing problems for the crew, is eliminated. There is also a reduction in pollution, “says Boyle.

    As fishing vessels are constantly idling, but the engine is still running, it seems logical to eliminate diesel as a source of energy, according to Boyle.

    The first boat manufactured will be hybrid, it will be equipped with a small diesel-powered generator that will be used to recharge the battery while the boat is not moving. But Mr. Boyle’s goal is to design a boat that will be 100% electric.

    The company will first target lobster fishermen in Gaspé. Their ships are old and ready to be replaced. The company, which is based in Chandler, in the Gaspé region, also has plans to focus on Norway.

    Continue reading the original article here

  • World’s First Electric Aquaculture Support Vessel

    Norwegian aquaculture company Salmar Farming has recently launched the world’s first electric aquaculture support vessel. The newly christened Elfrida uses batteries and power electronics from Siemens, which are charged overnight, and provide ample power to run throughout the day.

    Norwegian battery technology continues to show its robust nature in the workboat industry, reducing costs through improved efficiency. Best of all, the technology also helps reduce fossil fuel use and greatly improve working conditions. 

    Please read the following article by Teknisk Ukeblad for more details and a video of the vessel on her trial run.

     Norwegian innovation is, once again, leading the world with electric marine solutions.

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  • Siemens Study found 7 out of 10 ferries are more profitable after conversion to electrical propulsion

    siemens-case-studyThanks to a growing number of initiatives focusing on the transition to green energy sources and electrification, we now see that it is entirely technologically possible to replace diesel engines with battery-powered electric motors. Not only is it technologically possible to replace diesel engines with battery-powered electric motors but in Denmark alone, 30 ferry routes are found to be MORE profitable with electric propulsion compared to diesel.

    Read the full study here

  • A New Breed of Superyacht is Emerging

    The Hybrid Superyacht – the ultimate in freedom & efficiency

    Unlike conventional vessels, the hybrid superyacht allows a choice between traditional power generation or a clean onboard energy source. Efficiency is given a high premium, and energy storage maximizes efficiency while increasing performance, safety and comfort.

    Battery only operation of the yacht provides the ultimate beach club and dinner cruise experience; no noise, vibration or generator fumes. With energy storage, the yacht can stay independent of shore power longer to use undersized shore power facilities. The vessel can now stay in marinas, ports and anchorages previously impossible due to strict “no-generator” regulations.

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  • Ship of the Year

    “As the founder of Corvus Energy in 2009, I brought the marine industry a world first – a purpose designed energy storage solution to meet the needs of the marine customer. In the years following my departure it is apparent the industry is learning through failure, yet failure is the best teacher. Corvus’ failures taught us a lot and we treat it as a learning experience. As we move forward with PBES, we start with a clean slate of technology and grow the industry with a clear focus on safety, performance and value for our customers.” Brent Perry, CEO, PBES 

     

    Translated version of the Norwegian TU article “Vision of the Fjords” published September 5, 2016, by Tore Stensvold – see original here.

    The unique tourist vessel “Vision of the Fjords” is an innovative ship with hybrid drive. Forty meters long, Vision of the Fjords runs between Flam and Gudvangen in Sogn og Fjordane. During transit stages yesterday the Carbon fiber catamaran ran with a diesel generator and as soon as it entered the UNESCO’s World Heritage site area, switched to battery power..

    Favourite for an award!

    Now the ship favourite for the coveted title Ship of the Year – Ship of the Year 2016 award ceremony will be in Hamburg on Wednesday 6 September.

    seasight_foto_emil-rasmussen-br-aa-1000x481Even though engineers and visionaries get excited about the technology, it is the design that has people taking notice.

    – It is a paradox. We are known for building fast catamarans. However, we have never seen so much attention as after we launched Seasight just over a year ago, says CEO Tor Øyvind Aa.

    Normally we build catamarans in carbon fiber that go 25-35 knots. Seasight-catamaran is built 8 knots and maximum 19.5 in transit. In tourist pacing mode of 8 knots, the battery pack from the Norwegian ZEM and energy management system from ABB does the job with CCP, controllable pitch propellers.

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  • Water-Cooled Batteries Ensure Fast Charging of Electric Ferries Across Øresund

    English translation from original article published by Danish paper Ingeniøren, “Vandkølede batterier sikrer lynladning af elfærger på Øresund”, by Søren Rask Petersen on August 27, 2016

    1,200 kWh of electricity will need to be available when two ferries from HH Ferries operating on the Elsinore-Helsingborg route convert to full battery operation next year. This will require automated charging and a unique cooling system for the lithium batteries.

    Chimney smoke and engine rumble will soon become an old seafarer’s tale on HH Ferries’ two largest ferries operating on the Elsinore-Helsingborg route, which will be fully converted to battery operation next year.

    The ferries ‘Tycho Brahe’ and ‘Aurora’ are now diesel-electric, and the diesel engines from Wärtsilä will remain as a backup – but after the rebuild, the electric motor that drives the screw, will be supplied by 640 lithium batteries placed in four 32-foot containers on top of the vessel between the two chimneys.

    The batteries must be charged with approximately 1,200 kWh every time the ferries are at port. In Elsinore they have 5.5 minutes and in Helsingborg 9 minutes, therefore, there is no time to waste, which is why the charging process will be fully automated, says Henrik Fall Hansen – senior chief engineer on board of Tycho Brahe:

    “Our main supplier, ABB, also makes industrial robots, and the plan is that we connect the high-voltage cables using a robot.”

    HH article info graphic scandlines

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  • Battery Ferries smashes diesel on profitability – Bellona.no, By Ellen Viseth

    Below is a translated copy of a Bellona article originally published in Norwegian.  For a link to the original article click here

     

    A recent study reveals that it will be profitable to replace 70 percent of Norwegian ferries to either battery or hybrid propulsion.

    Of the 180 ferries that cross the Norwegian fjords, it is financially feasible to convert 84 of the ferries to battery power and 43 ferries to hybrid operation. This equates to over 70 percent of the Norwegian ferry fleet. This is the main conclusion of a recent study by Siemens carried out in cooperation with Bellona.

    Read the full feasibility study on battery ferries here

    bellona articleThe study is based on experiences from the battery ferry “Ampere”, which has used the electrical solutions from Siemens.

    – We see that the electric drive smashes diesel ferries on profitability for seven out of ten ferries. The fact that so many ferry crossings have already proven suitable for electrification is very positive. Therefore, we should act quickly to put in place the next battery ferries in Norway, says Odd Moen who heads the marine division of Siemens.

     

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  • Paving the way for small island ferries to go electric 

    Below is a translated copy of an article published by Søfart, 27 June 2016, Of Shipowners’ Association, www.soefart.dk

    Original article click here

    It will now be much more attractive to smaller ferries to switch to clean electric power, which now also have to pay only minimal electricity tax. It puts Skatteministeren up to in a new answer to parliament.

    Soefart article photo
    Photo: Shipowners’ Association

    It’s Brian Mikkelsen from the Conservatives, who have raised the threshold for cost skilled shore power for ships. Back in 2014, when parliament lowered the electricity tax for large commercial ships from 83.3 cent per kWh for EU minimum rate of 0.4 cent per kWh, copied to a Swedish minimum threshold to ensure rapid EU approval of the scheme. Now is the time for the next step, says Minister of Taxation:

     

    “I intend to propose legislation on the removal of gross tonnage limit of at least 400 tonnes of commercial ships since it could contribute to reduced emissions of CO2, NOx, SO2 and particulate matter from ships,” said Karsten Lauritzen in the new answer to parliament.

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  • PBES Featured in Port Strategy

    Off the Grid  – Port Strategy, April 14, by Stevie Knight

    Read the full version of the article here.

    Battery improvements

    There’s one change that stands to create an entirely new market dynamic: evolution of batteries.

    “Only recently has efficient, lithium-ion­ based energy storage technology dropped to the right price threshold,” says Brent Perry of PBES. Further, he explains there’s been a lot of solid work on the technical side to avoid headline-grabbing thermal runaway incidents.

    PBES Port Renewable EnergyThese two developments have already sparked a certain curiosity about the potential applications for both ports and ships, but Mr Perry explains a reality check is necessary: “We say although there are a thousand things you could do with batteries, there’s probably only five or so that you should do.” While these vary, number one is often about meeting new environmental legislation.

    To deliver on the promise of easy, clean, on-the-spot power without large scale infrastructure work, PBES has developed a couple of practical solutions. On the waterfront a battery barge can supply 4MWh of energy to visiting ships, allowing them to turn off the engines while at berth. On the land side, the company’s newest project is an array on a skid “which provides 1MWh of power that can go anywhere in the port”.

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  • PBES featured in Maritime Reporter

    PBES to begin Norwegian production early 2016 – Maritime Reporter, March Edition.

    To read the full digital version of March edition, click here

    Zero Emissions pg44 MRMarch16 copy

    Plan B Energy Storage (PBES) will begin manufac- turing batteries in Trondheim, Norway early in 2016 to better meet demand from Northern European markets. PBES, known for its team of highly qualified and experienced engineers, has developed what they call Safe Energy Storage: the ability to fully contain thermal events in a battery that would simply destroy other systems. This patent pending system has been vetted and validated by leaders in commercial marine propulsion systems and be- gins production in Trondheim early in 2016.

    “PBES is well poised for manufacturing and deploy- ment in Europe,” commented PBES chief executive of- ficer Brent Perry.“We’ve learned that doing things right from the beginning will save a lot of money and head- aches later on as our company scales up production with the right infrastructure in place.”

     

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