Hyper powered vessel battery charging system (ZEWT Partnership)

Electrification is an important means to make waterborne transport climate neutral and is already successfully deployed within diesel hybrid ships and fully electric ferries serving shorter distances. The capacity and range of electric vessels are increasing and the cost of batteries are coming down. Due to comparatively high capital costs, business models of electric ships are often founded on high availability, reduced maintenance and fast turnaround.

The provision of high charging powers is often impeded by the lack of availability of high power fast charging and of an adequate electrical supply infrastructure in ports or ferry terminals. The provision of such infrastructure to enable (parallel) multi-MW charging can substantially increase the costs to deploy electric shipping services. Furthermore, charging infrastructures are usually bespoke to a particular electric vessel design. This lack of standardisation further hinders the deployment of electric ships of all types.

Focusing on the ship and shore side interface, R&I will deliver solutions and technology to minimise high power recharging times at port, explore the applicability of charging solutions to a variety of batteries and their usefulness for different ship types. R&I will develop standard interfaces which ensure a seamless integration of different electric ships into conventional port and ferry terminal operations, including their integration with future port and energy infrastructures as they evolve.

Projects will address technologies and solutions for minimising time-to-recharge, by ensuring a recharging system of at least 5 MW capacity. No specific type of connection (either physical or inductive) is preferred.

A high level of charging performance is expected being suitable for new vessels, but solutions should also be adaptable towards existing or refitted vessels.

The following aspects need to be addressed: Ease and required connection time, flexibility regarding power levels and energy transfer whilst minimising impacts on electrical grid infrastructure (cables, switchboards, etc.), addressing potential battery degradation during fast charging, impacts on materials through e.g. corrosion and thermal stress.

Substantial progress beyond the state of the art should be achieved, such as with respect to the Horizon 2020 E-Ferry project. Applicability should be towards a range of vessel types, with larger battery systems and longer autonomy.

It should be explored whether the results can be adapted to a range of particular charging situations where power demand may be lower but the resilience of the system has to be higher and the connection may be more difficult to make. For example, vessels serving wind parks or offshore installations may be able to benefit from direct and distributed charging at the park or installation to enable longer periods of fully electric operation increasing operational efficiency and eliminating excessive transit times.

The energy supply at the port side is not within the scope of this topic. However, projects are expected to consider the minimum requirements for land side grid capacity and technical specifications needed to accompany project outputs.

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Zero Emission Waterborne Transport’ (ZEWT).