Using batteries to store power on vessels for later usage - How battery packs can be used together with an propulsion engine and the advantages of the system

Abstract

The shipping industry alone stands for around 3 % of the total GHG emissions yearly. The International Maritime Organization which is responsible for regulating shipping has a goal to reduce GHG emissions by 50 % before 2050 from the 2008 baseline. In this report there are some alternatives to lower these emissions and some other advantages that come with using batteries onboard vessels. The study is based on qualitative interviews with four different respondents. The participants have experience within different fields in the shipping industry, but they are all working with batteries onboard vessels. The study was conducted in Gothenburg but the vessels the interviewees refer to have their routes in Northern Europe. When installing batteries as either main or secondary source of power for the propulsion the system will lower the emission and it will make the system more redundant. Having a redundant system is a key factor in the shipping industry since the crew onboard may be the only people that can get the engine started again if it has lost power. No power means that the vessel will drift without control. The advantages of using batteries onboard are many but the batteries also have some concerns, and they will be addressed as well. Installing batteries has a cost but this will not be calculated in this report, the same goes for the total emission when the batteries are being charged from shore.