Ship lithium battery energy storage technology

What is a battery energy storage system?

The current battery energy storage systems on board vessels are based on a monotype topology, where a single type of battery provides the total energy and power required for the vessel. Depending on the application, the battery technology in the monotype systems is either a high-power (HP) or a high-energy (HE) cell type.

Are lithium-ion batteries a viable energy source for ocean vessels?

Since 2017, IMO has been proposing policies to rapidly promote the adoption of cleaner technologies and fuels for oceangoing vessels. Lithium-ion batteries have been recently installed onboard smaller scale ferries and passenger vessels either as the primary energy source, or then as a hybrid solution.

Is lithium battery technology a good choice for a new ship?

Analysing the track-records and press releases of recent new ship builds, it can be affirmed that lithium battery technology is the current commercial solution constituting the best compromise in terms of weight, space, performance, and cost [8, 11, 13].

Are lithium-ion batteries a viable energy source for ferries?

Lithium-ion batteries have been recently installed onboard smaller scale ferries and passenger vessels either as the primary energy source, or then as a hybrid solution. Various lithium-ion battery chemistries are available, with sources pointing at lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide as the most feasible solution for ships.

Can batteries improve the efficiency of a ship's energy system?

However, there are certain auxiliary tasks where batteries can be utilized to improve the overall efficiency of a ship's energy system, even if the batteries capacity is small compared to the total output capacity of the energy system.

Which battery chemistries are suitable for ship energy systems?

Battery characteristics Battery chemistries suitable for ship energy systems are primarily lithium based.