Total and Saft Batteries, the world leading designer and manufacturer of advanced technology batteries for industry acquired by Total in 2016, along with partners DNV GL, FKAB Marine Design, Viken Shipping AS and Wallem Ship Management picked up this year’s Tanker Shipping and Trade Innovation of the year award at a ceremony in London on 20 November.
The Joint Industry Project (JIP) looked to demonstrate how specific battery configurations can reduce operational costs and improve emissions profiles for smaller tankers.
The project focused on the long-term benefits of lithium-ion battery systems for auxiliary power management on board smaller-sized oil or product tankers in the 15-20,000dwt range and was widely praised for its technological and environmental findings.
The JIP demonstrated that batteries offer additional means of energy saving, making them an effective option for small tankers to store surplus and regenerative energy on board for peak demand situations, providing instant back-up power and act as a load optimizer.
The report found that over a 20-year operating period, all hybrid configurations investigated perform better than the conventional base scenario. This finding suggests that hybridization of the auxiliary machinery is beneficial, at least for smaller tankers, and should be considered in all newbuilding projects. The report concludes by cautioning that the required battery package size should be determined based on the ship’s unique power needs.
To read the report in full, click here.