The American Bureau of Shipping has released a white paper titled Emerging Battery Technologies in the Maritime Industry.
The white paper presents an overview of advantages, challenges and maritime applications for a range of battery types including metal-air, redox flow, ammonia, solid-state and lithium-ion batteries. It goes on to explore how emerging battery technologies can contribute to the decarbonization of the shipping industry.
ABS’s paper gives pros and cons for multiple different technologies that are relevant to the marine industry and analyzes their maturity compared with currently used lithium-ion batteries. Hybrid battery systems can also reduce vessel emissions but need sustainable and efficient battery technology to provide the necessary power. Demand differs between vessels, but battery technology can meet power requirements and enables renewable energy to be implemented to reduce emissions further.
“As hybrid and all-electric vessels become more common as a means of reducing emissions, improved battery technology will be a requirement to ensure efficient and effective operation of environmentally safe systems,” commented Patrick Ryan, ABS senior vice president of global engineering and technology.
“With so many developing technologies relying on a high-power, high-energy source of electricity, it is imperative that new battery technologies are developed and implemented. This overview is a practical demonstration of how ABS is committed to supporting the safe adoption of these emerging technologies,” ended Ryan.