Battery power for test project

The batteries will be used onboard the Blue Star Delos, operated by Blue Star Ferries of Athens, Greece, as part of an energy storage solution for the Blue Star Delos Renewable Energy Project. They will be connected to a marine solar panel array and the Aquarius Management & Automation System (MAS) jointly developed by KEI System and EMP.

Mr Kodaka, general manager, global business strategy division, The Furukawa Battery Co. Ltd, said: “It’s a great honour to join this renewable energy shipping project and work with excellent partners. We look forward to evaluating the trial results and further promoting our marine battery solutions to the shipping sector.”

The battery pack to be used for the trial consists of 12 valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA) FC38-12 (12V, 38Ah/20HR) batteries which have an approximate cycle life of 1000 cycles at 25°C. (depth of discharge 50%).

It’s currently being installed on Blue Star Delos and the first results from the trial are expected in early November 2014.

Following the trial, EMP will also conduct further lab tests involving the FC38-12 batteries plus evaluate other innovative energy storage technologies from Furukawa Battery.