DNV GL looks to drive marine battery adoption

The Joint Development Project (JDP) has been joined by more than a dozen partners from the value chain have joined the initiative including flag states, research institutions, battery and propulsion suppliers, fire detection and extinguishing system providers and ship owners, operators and yards.

“Including batteries in ships, whether as a hybrid or fully electric system, offers the industry the opportunity to improve fuel economy, reliability and operational costs,” said Geir Dugstad, director of Ship Classification and Technical Director in DNV GL – Maritime.

Ground work

Mr Dugstad cautioned though that for the technology to fully take hold, knowledge and requirements must be in place to address the concerns of all stakeholders, while also creating the conditions for the technology to take off in the market.

Thus, the JDP brings together stakeholders from across the whole maritime industry in order to develop a greater understanding of the challenges and requirements of expanding the use of batteries across the marine industry.

At the end of the JDP in 2019, the partners hope that they will have enhanced their own understanding so as to optimise their own products and services, but also the associated systems, procedures and approval processes associated with the technology.

Project partners include the Norwegian Maritime Authority, Corvus Energy, Plan B (PBES), Rolls Royce Marine AS, ABB, propulsion and system technology provider, Stena, Scandlines and Damen.