Emission-free and circular shipping by improving the use of different battery systems

The maritime sector needs energy storage devices (batteries and fuel cells) for the transition to zero-emission shipping. Different ships with different operational profiles may require different energy storage devices and their efficient integration into ships. The NWO Executive Board has awarded funding to two research projects of maritime researchers Henk Polinder and Andrea Coraddu. Both will focus on improving the use of different energy storage device systems. The awards involve a sum of 4.2 million euros.

Maritime Batteries

The research team of ‘Maritime Batteries’ will investigate NMC batteries, which are the current standard, as well as new LFP batteries for suitability.

Henk Polinder: “Within the Maritime Batteries project we will investigate different aspects of batteries (chemistry, degradation, circularity, safety and integration with the power, propulsion and energy system) from the perspective of application in the maritime sector. These aspects are very different from automotive because, for example, weight is less important in ships than it is in cars, while safety is more important given you cannot get off a ship as easily as you can get out of a car.”

Ship system expanded energy storage devices lifetime via AI-empowered control (SEANERGETIC)

Andrea Coraddu and his research team will outline a framework to enable emission-free and circular shipping. The key lies with new battery and fuel cell technologies and their efficient integration into ships. Improvements to the energy density, lifetime, cost and safety aspects of current technology remain challenging issues to which this project will formulate answers.

Read more: Awarded projects will contribute to emission-free and circular shipping | NWO