Partners develop Singapore’s first hybrid electric bunker tankers

This marine electrification project will see up to four hybrid bunker tankers provided to V-Bunkers, all fitted with Shift’s 480 kWh liquid cooled ESS and battery management systems. This will result in improved fuel efficiency and reduce GHG emissions by approximately 10% a year.

Shift’s ESS will be primarily used for peak shaving (storing energy during low power consumption for use during peak usage periods, allowing main generators to operate with a more stable load). This helps to optimise energy use, significantly reduce fuel and maintenance costs, improve responsiveness and reliability of power management and in turn enhances safety of operations.

In addition, the ESS has the capability to charge its battery system from onshore power supply sources once such charging facilities become available in Singapore.

Delivery of the first of the two bunker tankers is expected in the second half of 2022.

“With our partners Red Offshore, we’re excited to be partnering with V-Bunkers on this important clean energy initiative for their hybrid bunker tanker operations in Singapore,” said Brent Perry, Shift’s CEO. “This demonstrates that there are opportunities to reduce GHGs for oil and gas companies anywhere in the supply chain. V-Bunkers is showing tremendous leadership with this electrification project, and Shift is proud to be part of such a huge step in decarbonizing the short sea shipping sector.”

“A bunkering fleet is a crucial component of global shipping infrastructure, so it makes sense to look at ways to reduce GHGs here,” said Mike Muller, Head of Vitol Asia. “Adopting the right fuel efficiency technology is imperative to the sector’s growth and development, and we look forward to implementing Shift’s ESS to offer the highest levels of safety and efficiency throughout our bunker craft operations.”

Earlier this year, Shift Clean Energy announced that it had formed an alliance with Vallianz Holdings, SeaTech, and ABS for the construction of an all-electric, zero carbon emissions harbour tug (e-tug) – the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region.