Rolls-Royce converts tall training ship to hybrid

Norway’s state-owned company Enova is providing over NOK 4 million in financial support for this innovative project which will equip the historic square rigger Statsraad Lehmkuhl with shipboard battery power.

“The Statsraad Lehmkuhl has been relatively environmentally-friendly for over a century already. After all, for large parts of the year, wind power provides all the propulsion it needs,” said Haakon Vatle, executive director of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Foundation. “We are now going to make her next 100 years even more environmentally-friendly.”

Hybrid conversion

Currently, the vessel uses diesel generators to power shipboard systems and for propulsion when necessary.

Once installed, the battery will assist in both areas, thereby reducing the number of generators that need to be kept running. The battery system will also allow the power of the wind in the ship’s sails to be exploited.

According to Andreas Seth, Rolls-Royce, Senior Vice President – Electrical, Automation & Control, the ship’s propeller can also be used to generate electricity, rather like a wind turbine.

“The amount of electricity produced will vary with the speed of the ship, but with our system the energy can be stored in batteries for use as environmentally-friendly engine power, or for day-to-day shipboard operations such as heating and cooking,” he said.

According to Nakstad, Enova views the Statsraad Lehmkuhl as an important showcase for this new technology.

The vessel plays an important role in the training of the Norwegian Naval Academy’s cadets, as well as the further education of apprentices and those undertaking vocational training to become licensed seamen and marine engineers.

At the same time as the batteries are being installed, the ship is also being made ready to receive onshore power to recharge the batteries.

The project is due for completion towards the end of 2018.