Next steps: electrifying the world's shipping fleet

摘要

New solutions to drive down battery costs and opportunities to future-proof the fleet will boost the uptake of electric propulsion. These were among the key themes from Hybrid and all-electric: the next steps in electrifying the world's shipping industry, sponsored by BAE Systems and Wartsila, and part of Riviera Maritime Media's Maritime Hybrid, Electric & Fuel Cells Webinar Week. Wartsila director electrical and power systems Torsten Bussow explained there are three reasons why electrification will play a major part in decarbonisation efforts. "If the vessel is connected to a grid in the port, it already profits from green electricity that flows from most grids, so whenever the vessel is on shore... this is an immediate greenhouse gas reduction measure." He said the second reason is if you take renewable energy as a source and try to convert the propulsion, the loss from a full electric system is slightly more than 10% which is "far superior to any other propulsion means we have". He added "Every vessel that can electrify, like the shortsea sector, will eventually electrify because the propulsion loss is so little."