Swiss energy-storage solutions-provider Leclanché SA has installed a giant battery on a small cruise ship, in collaboration with marine technology resource supplier Century Ship Service. This modification has created a hybrid passenger vessel, that can cruise the Norwegian fjords without affecting sensitive environments. The identity of the vessel is a closely-guarded secret.
A New Generation Battery For Green Cruises
The Leclanché SA Navius MRS-3 battery is purpose-built for new-generation marine vessels. Its European-manufactured lithium-ion cells assemble efficiently onto a scaleable, modular rack system. This design makes it possible to install these batteries on any marine vessel.
The hybrid cruise ship was already some 450 feet / 140 meters long before the conversion project began. Century Ship Service stretched the hull by some 35 feet / 11 meters to accommodate battery rooms and ‘hydrogen services’ onboard.
The four-megawatt-hour giant battery on a cruise ship should be sufficient for port maneuvers, low-speed cruising, or in emission-sensitive zones. However, this storage could not cope with long distance cruising.
The 35 foot / 11 meter extension is far larger than necessary for the four-megawatt-hour battery. Perhaps this means the owners are planning to extend the installation? Although the reference to ‘hydrogen systems’ hints at adding hydrogen fuel cells, or some other hydrogen supplement.
More About the Four-Megawatt-Hour Battery
The battery module in our image may look like a tall building at first sight. However, the module is actually a prefabricated enclosure about the size of a shipping container on its end.
Each module contains multiple lithium-ion battery racks, as well as cooling systems, safety and fire-suppression hardware, and electrical connections. It arrives on site fully-certified, akin to a plug-and-play device. Just imagine cruising the Norwegian fjords, and hearing the water lapping around the hull.
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