The Viking Lady will soon be the first offshore supply vessel with a true hybrid energy system. The system is now being developed and soon a large battery pack for energy storage will be installed. When the new system is complete, the operation of the engine will be more smooth and cost effective giving further emission reductions.
The three-year-old LNG-fuelled Viking Lady, owned by Eidesvik Offshore, was the first merchant ship to use a fuel cell as part of its propulsion system. The fuel cell, which generates an electric output of 330 kW, was installed in the autumn of 2009 and has successfully run for more than 18,500 hours. Based on this, the Viking Lady is already one of the world’s most environmentally friendly ships.
https://www.swzonline.nl/weblog/3[Watch a video of the Viking Lady here]
Hybrid System Similar to Those in Cars
With the new battery pack, the ship will operate using a hybrid system similar to that which has been installed in hybrid cars for a number of years. However, the potential emission reductions are higher and the return on investment period is shorter for ships than it is for cars.
Exploring the Benefits of a Hybrid System
DNV heads the research project, which is called FellowSHIP. Its partners are Eidesvik Offshore and Wärtsilä. In this, the next project phase, an energy storage capability is to be introduced to the energy system. This allows the benefits of a true hybrid energy system to be explored.
Potential Benefits of Hybrid Energy System
The primary potential benefits of the hybrid energy system for a ship like the Viking Lady are a 20-30% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions through smoother and more efficient operation of the engines and fuel cell. The reductions of other exhaust components are even higher.
Return on Investment within Two Years
The whole shipping industry is currently facing record-high fuel costs. Based on these actual costs, the return on investment period for the hybrid system is estimated to be less than two years.
Saving Fuel and Reducing Emissions
Bjørn-Johan Vartdal, DNV’s project manager says: “We know that the hybrid system will reduce the energy consumption. When operating, for example, on dynamic positioning, there will be a major fuel saving potential. When in harbour, too, the ship should be able to operate on the fuel cell and its battery power alone, which will reduce emissions significantly. For environmentally sensitive areas, this will be an essential benefit. Additional benefits are related to reductions in machinery maintenance costs and in noise and vibrations.”
Savings Will Be Verified
A comprehensive measurement program will be carried out to verify the savings potential. The hybrid system will also be modelled in detail. Calibrated and verified process models will facilitate simulation and optimisation of future hybrid systems.
New Class Rules for Battery-Powered Ships
The new DNV class rules for battery-powered ships have been developed in parallel to this. These are the first class rules developed in order for batteries to be used as part of a vessel’s propulsion energy – both as hybrid solutions and for “pure” battery-driven vessels.
The project is due for completion in 2013.
Source: https://vikinglady.no/[Viking Lady website]
