Global shipping emissions are a small, but significant part of the global warming puzzle. Much of the air pollution occurs far out to sea, in largely unregulated space. The International Maritime Organization has set guidelines for the switchover to deep sea marine battery power by 2050. We investigate and report back on progress.
Deep Sea Marine Battery Technology Part of the Plan
Electrification of deep sea vessel transport is not as simple as cutting over to electric vehicles. The ships are huge, and would require massive battery power. Recharging their batteries out to sea is impractical in terms of the current state of the technology.
We are learning that deep sea marine battery packs may only play a secondary role in the struggle to decarbonize our atmosphere. Hydrodynamic scientists are already helping to tackle the root problem, by studying the motion of water and the way it interacts with hulls of ships.
Our image shows marine engineers testing a prototype container ship model in a towing tank. Ship builders use this technique to simulate the benefits of modified hulls and variable propellers. This is not unlike wind-resistance-testing automotive vehicles, to reduce their energy consumption.
Other engineers are finding ways to reduce the amount of air pollution that very large marine diesel engines pump out. The Off-Shore Energy website suggests that these two energy-saving approaches could cut deep-sea shipping air pollution by as much as 15%.
But There Is Slow Progress With Electrifying Marine Transport
Improving hull efficiency reduces energy demand, regardless of the source of that power. However, joint research between CIMAC (Conseil International des Machines à Combustion) and Maritime Battery Forum detect, “a certain lack of transparency on the battery usage in deep-sea shipping”.
Their publication concludes that while there is scope for deep sea marine battery propulsion, “a fully battery-powered, zero-emission application is not available” at this time. Therefore, hybrid and alternative fuel solutions appear to be the more practical option at this time. Almost all full-battery-power vessels still operate in coastal waters.
More Information
Marine Transport Electrifies the Solent
