W H I T E PA P E R

BATTERY HYBRID POWER

IN MARINE APPLICATIONS
Not just plug ‘n’ sail
Battery hybrid
in marine applications

Battery hybrid power can benefit everyday operations in marine applications while also reducing carbon emissions
and ensuring compliance with legal or customer requirements. Technological advances have made battery hybrid
solutions available for larger vessels. However, no standard approaches have yet been defined, and in order to
achieve reliable and efficient operation, you need to work with experienced and knowledgeable partners.

WHAT IS BATTERY HYBRID POWER? BENEFITS OF BATTERY HYBRID POWER

Hybrid power solutions are becoming increasingly
common in marine applications. Hybrid systems combine
different power sources: diesel and gas engines,
electricity, even wind power. The combination of power
sources, and the possibility of running them in parallel, is
the defining characteristic of a hybrid power system.
One solution that is gaining popularity is battery hybrid
power which combines traditional propulsion systems with
onboard batteries. The batteries not only deliver emission-
free propulsion; they also allow energy storage when the
vessel’s traditional propulsion system (such as a diesel
engine) is running
Designing and installing battery hybrid power solutions
is never just plug ‘n’ sail. There are many different
approaches and no standard components or solutions.
Working with experienced and knowledgeable partners
is therefore crucial in order to design, develop, operate,
and service a solution that gives the user 100% reliable
performance while delivering the benefits of battery hybrid
solutions.
Battery hybrid power combines traditional
propulsion systems with onboard batteries.
There are many different approaches and no
standard components or solutions.
Experience shows that battery hybrid power can
• benefit everyday operations in marine applications,
for example by reducing fuel consumption
• drastically reduce environmental impact
• help the operator comply with legislative and other
requirements.
OPERATIONAL BENEFITS
With battery power, vessels can handle everyday
operations using fewer generators. On offshore supply
vessels (OSVs), the battery can provide instant getaway
power in case of generator failure while working in the
critical zone around an offshore installation. The onboard
power management system (PMS) monitors battery levels
and optimises the use of the diesel engine. When the
engine does need to run, it can therefore run at its optimal
duty point (approx. 85% load) instead of, say, 40%.
Running on fewer generators and fully utilising the
diesel engine result in fuel savings. Hybrid power also
reduces wear and tear on the diesel engine and gensets
by avoiding spikes. The battery backup also prevents
blackouts – a major advantage on ships with a constant
need for large amounts of power, such as cruise ships.

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EXAMPLE:
The Norwegian OSV Seven Viking is currently being
converted to battery hybrid power. Following conversion,
it is expected that the vessel will be able to cut fuel
consumption in dynamic positioning operation by 25%
using battery hybrid power.
 ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Using less diesel or other fossil fuels is an obvious benefit for the environment as it reduces harmful emissions. In an age of
increasing concern for the environment, the use of battery hybrid power can also improve the operator’s brand image.

EXAMPLE:
In Denmark, HH Ferries was able to reduce CO2
emissions from two car ferries by 65% compared
to the previous diesel-only solution by retrofitting
battery power solutions. The company won the
prestigious Baltic Sea Clean Maritime Award for the
project in 2017.

Photo: HH Ferries Group

COMPLIANCE BENEFITS

More and more ports worldwide are introducing regulations that ban the use of diesel power when in port. At sea, too,
emission-free operation is now a requirement in certain areas. Battery hybrid solutions allow operators to comply with such
requirements. For some charters, too, battery power is a requirement.

EXAMPLES:
• Vessels in Hong Kong waters are not allowed to emit dark smoke.
Perpetrators will face fines.
• In its public tenders for OSVs, Norwegian energy company
Equinor (formerly Statoil) prioritises vessels fitted with
technological solutions that result in lower fuel consumption.
In 2017, the company awarded new contracts for seven
OSVs, all of which were equipped with battery hybrid
power solutions. “Battery operation has a good impact on
consumption and emissions,” said Frida Eklöf Monstad, head
of Equinor’s marine unit in the company’s logistics activities.
INCREASINGLY WIDESPREAD APPROACH

Given the benefits of battery hybrid power, it is not
surprising that governing bodies, standardisation
committees, and companies in the maritime sector are
all adopting this approach. Here are a few examples of
recent and current developments:
• Norway is likely to adopt more fully electric or hybrid
electric vessels for its more than 100 short ferry
lines. In 2014, Remi Eriksen, CEO of Norway-based
international certification body and classification
society DNV GL, said, “Short sea shipping will see
much more use of batteries in the next 10 years”.
• Stena Line is gradually retrofitting the 29,691 GRT
Stena Jutlandica ferry for battery operation. When the
project is completed by 2030, the ferry is expected
to complete the 50 nautical mile voyage from
Frederikshavn, Denmark, to Gothenburg, Sweden, on
battery power alone. “Battery operation is becoming
a very exciting alternative to traditional fuels for
shipping, with the added prospect of emissions to the
air being completely eliminated”, said Stena Line’s
CEO Niclas Mårtensson in a press release.
• The IMO has developed an initial strategy aiming for
a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from
shipping by 2050 compared to 2008. According to
the initial strategy definition, technological innovation
and the global introduction of alternative fuels and/
or energy sources for international shipping will
be integral to achieve the overall ambition of this
strategy.
• Technical committees under the IEC are working on
standards for developing electric marine propulsion.
The future propulsion systems of ships are set to
include a greater share of electric power in the overall
energy mix, including hybrid diesel electric and full
electric.
The IMO has developed an
initial strategy aiming for a 50%
reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions from shipping by 2050
compared to 2008

“Battery operation is becoming a very exciting

alternative to traditional fuels for shipping,
with the added prospect of emissions to the air
being completely eliminated”
Niclas Mårtensson, Stena Line

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Defining your battery hybrid project

NO STANDARD SOLUTIONS

Despite the obvious benefits from using battery hybrid In order to ensure success on a given project, ship
power, and despite ongoing efforts by the IMO and IEC, owners/operators, shipyards, EPC contractors, system
no standard solutions or approaches have yet been integrators, and switchboard manufacturers must
defined for marine applications. Battery hybrids are never collaborate to develop a customised solution. And they
just plug ‘n’ sail. Different vessels and applications have need to partner with component vendors who have the
different requirements and therefore different design necessary experience to be a part of this process.
philosophies.

“How a solution is put together depends very much on

who delivers the drives, battery packs, and engines,
and what the design philosophy is. I’ve seen at least a
hundred different solutions,” says Project Manager &
Senior Specialist Esper Flodgaard of DEIF. “Because
the hybrid power area is relatively new, there is no such
thing as a standard dedicated controller. At least not yet,
and I think many players will keep developing their own
solutions.”

He adds that every battery hybrid power project, new

builds or retrofit installations, depends very much on who
is in charge of the project, and who else is involved. Class
societies, for example, play a major role, as they govern
ship construction and can “ground” ships that do not
comply with regulations.

“How a solution is put together depends

very much on who delivers the drives,
battery packs, and engines, and what
the design philosophy is. I’ve seen at
least a hundred different solutions”
Esper Flodgaard, DEIF

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CHECKLIST: IMPORTANT ISSUES

Are you considering a battery hybrid marine power • Is the vessel equipped for battery charging while
solution? Here are a few issues that you should consider, in port, or does it rely solely on the main engine for
and potential problems that you should be aware of: charging its batteries?

• What exactly do you want to achieve with a battery
hybrid power solution? Do you want energy
storage and efficient diesel operation? Emission-
free docking? Operational savings? Or perhaps a
combination of several benefits? And how will you
design the PMS/EMS to achieve this?
• Which requirements, legal or otherwise, should
the vessel comply with? Who sets out these
requirements? And who needs to approve the vessel
for operation – class societies, maritime authorities,
or others?
• When you take delivery of your new battery hybrid
solution, will you need to carry out hours of manual
set-up and parameter configuration, or is the solution
pre-configured and ready to run?
• How will you ensure that your crews receive the
necessary training to operate the PMS and DP
systems on board?
• If errors are detected during the design, installation,
or operation of a battery hybrid system, where can
you get quick, reliable, and competent support?

• Would an AC or DC bus solution, or a combination, • Where can you get after-sales support and service
suit your vessel best? for your system, and who can you turn to for
extensions or upgrades?

• What are the requirements of the PMS/EMS? What

should it be able to do? Do you need it to carry out • How and where will you keep project data on file

charge/discharge management of the batteries, for for future reference? How do you make sure that

example? everything is registered correctly and in a way that

can be used in future?

WHAT IS A PMS OR EMS?

A power management system (PMS), sometimes referred to as an energy management system (EMS),
is a shipboard system responsible for monitoring and controlling the ship’s onboard power generation
systems. It matches supply and demand, switching between power sources as needed, and alerts the crew
in case of power problems. Common tasks include starting and stopping gensets to match power demand,
applying load shedding to reduce demand, and performing power synchronisation and load sharing.

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FIND FLEXIBLE, KNOWLEDGEABLE PARTNERS

To answer these questions and ensure successful project
execution, you need to work with partners with the
necessary experience, qualifications, flexibility, agility, and
know-how. Battery hybrid power and PMS hardware are
important, but the decisive parameter is understanding
how your hardware interacts with the rest of the vessel,
and how you can achieve the potential benefits.
• Look for a partner able and willing to inspect your
vessel or construction plans and who asks detailed
and sometimes critical questions. It’s better to work
with a partner who points out any weaknesses in your
plans early on, and who does not stop asking until he
is satisfied with your replies.

Perhaps most importantly, you should have complete trust

“If a system fails, it costs a lot of money and
causes a lot of problems. So it simply has to
work!”
Esper Flodgaard, DEIF
in the experience, know-how, and technical ability of your
selected partner! Battery hybrid power solutions often
represent a significant investment, and adopting new
technology can jeopardise operational stability unless
you get a solution that delivers reliable performance from
the get-go. “If a system fails, it costs a lot of money and
causes a lot of problems. So it simply has to work,” says
Esper Flodgaard.

Here are some tips for working with your partners:

• Involve partners such as hardware vendors as early The decisive parameter is understanding
as possible. Share all technical details with them, for how your hardware interacts with the rest
example who delivers the engines, drives, battery of the vessel, and how you can achieve the
packs, and switchboards, and who decides the potential benefits.
technical specifications, deadlines, and other project
requirements. You might find that your partner can
provide valuable input, for example on technical
specifications.

• Look for a partner willing to nominate a dedicated

project team with the necessary resources. Especially
on projects with short turnaround times, you need
to work with someone you can trust to answer the
phone, not someone who gets side-tracked by
another project and keeps you waiting.

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Examples

The following examples of battery hybrid power solutions in marine applications can be used as inspiration for developing your
own solutions, or for asking the right questions when talking to potential hardware vendors or partners.

BATTERY HYBRID SETUP WITH AC BUS

In this AC bus system, the PMS controls whether to

power the ship’s propellers using the main engine or
batteries. The battery option keeps the power on at all
times, reducing wear and tear on the diesel engine in
case of demand surges that would otherwise result in
transient engine loads and excessive fuel consumption.
The PMS handles charge/discharge management for the
batteries, overseeing battery charging while in port and
redirecting main engine power to the batteries as needed
while at sea.

BATTERY HYBRID SETUP WITH DC BUS

The DC bus in this solution allows variable speed

genset operation, lowering fuel consumption, emissions,
and noise levels. The integrated load management
functionality includes advanced blackout prevention, and
the architecture of the DC bus solution eliminates the risk
of faults spreading across the electrical network resulting
in network voltage and frequency disturbances.

COMBINED SETUPS

Combined AC and DC bus setups are possible. Especially with retrofit projects, the best solution will often be the one which
best accommodates existing systems instead of stripping the vessel of all equipment and starting from scratch.

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CONTACT DEIF TO LEARN MORE

There can be little doubt that battery hybrid power will play an increasingly important role in marine applications in future, but
requirements vary, and technology advances quickly. There is no such thing as a plug ‘n’ sail solution, but competent and
experienced partners can help you steer clear of the challenges and hazards involved in the transition towards electrified
shipping.

Contact DEIF to learn more about your options for introducing battery hybrid power in your marine applications, and let our
experience and know-how benefit your project.

Esper Flodgaard Per Ole Sørensen

Project Manager & Senior Specialist Solution Manager & Project Sales
Marine & Offshore Customer Solutions Marine & Offshore Customer Solutions

Email: ef@deif.com Email: pos@deif.com

Tel.: +45 9614 9698 Tel.: +45 9614 9618
Mobile: +45 4070 9698 Mobile: +45 4070 9618

MORE INFORMATION

Visit deif.com to read the full HH Ferries case and discover how the company was able to reduce CO2 emissions by 65%.

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DEIF A/S
Frisenborgvej 33, 7800 Skive, Denmark
Tel. +45 9614 9614
Learn more at deif.com