Canadian energy storage system manufacturer Corvus Energy has continued to be a force to be reckoned with over the last 12 months. Not only did the company expand and upgrade its factory in Vancouver to house a new 200MWh semi-automated battery production facility and new product R&D, design and engineering center, but it also built a new US$9.3m 400MWh fully automated factory and new marine system testing and development facility in Midtun, Bergen, Norway. As a result of both investments, Corvus Energy has increased its battery production capacity eight-fold. What’s more, in February 2019, Corvus strengthened its product portfolio by acquiring Grenland Energy, a Norwegian developer of lightweight and subsea lithium-ion batteries. In 2018, the number of projects utilizing a Corvus energy storage system went above 190, totaling more than 200MWh and 2 million operating hours, up from 140+ projects, 100MWh and 1 million operating hours the previous year. In the last 12 months, the company has won contracts for the supply and sale of 20 Orca Energy Storage Systems, the most notable of which include: 1,500kWh of battery power to the Navtek NV-712 ZeeTug, the world’s first battery-powered, all-electric tug; a 270kWh Orca ESS for installation on board the diesel-electric MS Geir fishing vessel; Orca ESSs for five new all-electric ferries being built by Havyard for Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1; a 550kWh Orca ESS for a new all-electric skimmer workboat; and the supply of the world’s largest battery package to a hybrid vessel in the form of an air-cooled 6,100kWh energy storage system on board new-build gasoline electric cruise and passenger ferries operated by Havila Kystruten.

Also shortlisted:
Lithium Werks
Leclanché
Danfoss
EST-Floattech

In a move that has changed the landscape of the maritime industry, Kongsberg officially acquired Rolls-Royce’s commercial marine business for US$650m (£500m) in May 2019. The purchase, financed via a combination of new equity and new bond loan, followed a strategic review in January 2018 by Rolls-Royce of its commercial marine operations, which in 2017 had 3,600 employees and generated revenue of $1bn (£817m) with an operating loss of just US$91m (£70m). The sale has already made a positive profit impact of US£65m (£50m) based on 2017 pro forma figures. In August 2018, Kongsberg was awarded contracts with Nanjing Jinling Shipyard Co., China to deliver battery systems, shaft generators, frequency converters and energy management systems to nine roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) vessels ordered by Grimaldi Group, Italy. The contracts are valued at more than US$47.8m and include an option for three additional vessels increasing the total value to more than US$59.7m. In November 2018, the company selected Leclanché as its battery partner and supplier of customized marine energy storage solutions. Through the partnership, Leclanché will deliver one of the largest single marine battery system orders to date, for nine vessels totaling 45MWh batteries.

Also shortlisted:
ABB
Siemens
Wärtsilä
Veth Propulsion

Developed by Rolls-Royce Marine’s commercial business unit and subsequently launched by Kongsberg in April 2019, SAVe Energy is a liquid-cooled lithium-ion-based energy storage system capable of producing 10-18MWh for ferries, cruise vessels and multipurpose vessels. Featuring a modular design that enables the product to be scaled according to energy and power requirements, SAVe Energy complies with international legislation for low- and zero-emission propulsion systems. The product’s development work has been partly funded by the Norwegian Research Council of Norway’s ENERGIX program, which comprises shipowners Color Line, Norled and the Norwegian Coastal Administration Shipping Company. SAVe Energy, which was recently class approved by DNV GL, can be applied to several areas including peak shaving, spinning reserve and battery-powered vessels. Combined with an LNG- or diesel-powered engine in a hybrid solution, it increases efficiency and reduces emissions, and can be coupled with most types of propulsion units. In a hybrid set up, SAVe Energy handles the peak load, while the main power generators relate to the average load and do not reduce the propulsion units thrusting capabilities.

Also shortlisted:
Hybrid Inboard Performance System by Volvo Penta
Robotized and digitized battery module factory by Siemens
Wärtsilä Hybrid Centre by Wärtsilä
100kW AZ podded motor by Fischer Panda
EASy Marine battery system by EAS Batteries
2MWe maritime fuel cell power installation by Nedstack and GE

Viking’s 20+ person team, led by VP of R&D and Engineering Lasse Melgaard Sall and R&D director Lasse Werner Maden, are nominated for this award for successfully completing heavy weather testing of Viking’s LifeCraft electric inflatable survival vessel in October and November 2018. The tests, witnessed and subsequently approved by DNV-GL (acting on behalf of the Danish Maritime Authority), were the culmination of 10 years of vessel testing and development, and took place in the North Sea, between southern Norway and the UK, in high winds and stormy seas. Wave heights were between 3.6m and 4.6m (11.8ft to 15.1ft) with towering peaks of up to 10m (32.8ft) – 50% above the stipulated heavy weather testing requirements – and brutal wind gusts of up to 18m/sec (40mph) were recorded. However, the team battled through seasickness and heaving decks to successfully launch and maneuver test boats ballasted with 70 tons (simulating full capacity) along the weather and lee sides of the ship for several hours and at a much faster speed than required. This not only exposed the system to the full force of the weather, but it also demonstrated the safety and stability of the vessel as a means of evacuation. They achieved this with the wind at their fronts and backs, making the feat even more impressive. The team also successfully simulated station-keeping by performing a 24-hour controlled drift test in battering seas with no damage to the vessels.

Also shortlisted:
Naval engineering team, GE Power Conversion
Natalia hybrid barge development team, Hybrid Marine
Electric freefall lifeboat test team, Verhoef

Put into operation on the 4km (2.5-mile) Öresund Strait between Sweden and Denmark in November 2018 by ForSea, Tycho Brahe and Aurora are two of the world’s largest battery-powered, zero-emission ferries. Converted from conventional diesel engine operations to battery power at Öresund DryDocks in just eight weeks, the bidirectional vessels transfer over 7.4 million passengers and 1.9 million vehicles between urban port terminals in Helsingborg and Helsingor each year, with crossings every 15 minutes. As a result of the conversion, these 100m-long (328ft) ferries, both originally built in 1991, no longer collectively emit 28,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year as they did previously. Both conversions required installation a of 4,160kWh electrical system, comprising 640 lithium-ion batteries, with 11MW total power, housed in four containers on each top deck, as well as battery racks, energy storage control systems and ABB’s Onboard DC Grid power distribution technology. Using ABB automated shore-side charging stations that utilize industrial robotics and wireless communications, charging of each vessel takes less than six minutes in Denmark and nine minutes in Sweden. Furthermore, the ferries can also charge the batteries with electricity coming from renewable sources such as wind, hydro and solar power.

Also shortlisted:
Stena Jutlandica diesel-electric passenger and vehicle ferry by Stena Line
Sendo Liner diesel-electric inland barge by Sendo Shipping
ORC 136.HY diesel-electric pilot boat by Port of London Authority
LifeCraft electric inflatable survival vessel by Viking Life-Saving Equipment
OV Ryvingen diesel-electric multifunctional work vessel by the Norwegian Coastal Administration