SeaFjord Energy reveals world’s first e-bunker vessel to recharge battery-powered vessels
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by Admin
Swedish SeaFjord Energy on Monday (5 June) said it has developed the world’s first e-bunker vessel, equipped with a large battery pack, to offer a completely new way of supplying green energy to vessels.
SeaFjord Energy’s e-bunker vessel, developed in collaboration with ship designer FKAB, can be charged with energy from shore connection or directly from a wind farm. The e-bunker vessel can then transport and recharge battery packs on board other vessels, or supply entire ships without battery packs, with emission-free electrical energy.
The e-bunker vessel represents a new era in the shipping industry and enables more vessels to install battery packs and also enables them to operate completely emission-free.
The firm said the shipping industry at sea needs to take action in order to reach sustainability goals has been on the agenda for a long time, but there are challenges.
“For example, it’s often difficult for large vessels to connect to the electricity grids in ports where infrastructure for shore power is missing,” it said, adding it decided to find a solution for this.
Another possibility with the e-bunker vessel is that it can be used for trading with energy and be charged at beneficial times or locations and deliver energy at other times or at other onshore locations. The vessel can also be used as a backup resource in emergency or in crisis situations.
Elias Magnusson, COO SeaFjord Energy, said: “For large vessels, there is currently only a limited possibility of shore connections in port and an expansion of the infrastructure is both expensive and in many cases not possible.”
“Our new e-bunker vessel delivers green energy as electrons, at the places the customer needs it. It drastically increases the possibilities for vessels to become electrified and operate emission-free at sea and in ports and fjords to a greater extent.”
The e-bunker vessel is designed to be able to deliver an output of up to 50 megawatts, and a normal charge takes about 60 minutes. The amount of energy to be delivered is sufficient for a ferry to sail from the south of Sweden to the north of Germany.
The firm said this creates completely new opportunities for the tourism industry as well. The e-bunker vessel offers fast charging at sea enabling ships to travel longer distances without unnecessary stops in ports, or long breaks for charging. This means that passengers are able to travel both sustainably and comfortably.
Andreas Magusson, CEO SeaFjord Energy, said: “We are proud to be pioneers in the development of this type of vessel and are looking forward to collaborating with our partners and stakeholders to promote a more sustainable maritime sector.”
Photo credit: SeaFjord Energy
Published: 7 June, 2023
