Page 27: of Marine News Magazine (July 2022)

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Feature

Batteries

ISS

Industrial Service Solutions is seeking bids from

U.S. shipyards to build up to four hulls for what will become North America’s ? rst fully-electric towboats. tery science, referring to the level of charge of an electric can help project managers develop the right questions to battery relative to its capacity. State of change is an idea ask so that further research remains productive and timely.

that raises questions about obsolescence. If a workboat, for Questions about state of change—and how close sig- example, lasts 30, 40 even 50 years, decisions about to- ni? cant change may be—also arise from a review of work day’s battery power and ESS are not without risks for vessel within a new Dutch consortium focusing on industrial owners. In 5 to 10 years, today’s top-shelf tech could be scale batteries and ESS. The consortium, formed last Oc- outdated and uneconomical. And there are corollary risks, tober, is called the Battery Competence Center and it in- e.g., if related shoreside equipment and utility generation cludes universities, trade associations and private sector does not develop as needed, or as expected, a battery pow- companies, including DAF Trucks, ELEO and Damen ered vessel could become a “stranded asset.” Shipyards. The Center is subsidized by REACT-EU; mem-

The Maritime Battery Forum, established in 2014, is a bers contribute via fees.

membership group that works to “promote battery-based One goal of the center is to “build up knowledge and value creation and make batteries a success within the glob- competency in the ? eld of battery technology.” The center al maritime market.” Members include Corvus Energy, wants related economic bene? ts to develop in the Nether-

Damen Shipyards and Caterpillar Marine as well as much lands, to decrease dependence on Asian suppliers. newer, specialized companies such as Aviloo and Beyonder. For Damen Shipyards the center offers “an opportunity

The Forum’s website has a freely available, two-page to apply knowledge from the automotive sector, which is simpli? ed guide about batteries: “Which battery for your way ahead of the maritime sector in the ? eld of electri? ca- ship?” The guide covers the concept of battery “building tion, in the shipping industry,” said Peter van Terwisga, blocks” and system designs and applications. It presents with Damen.

the central ideas inherent in thinking about and evaluating R&D is another priority. Looking ahead, the center batteries and ESS performance. For a company starting an will focus on the development of complex production initial look at investing in a battery/ESS vessel, the guide processes and machinery. Other topics include thin-? lm | MN July 2022 28