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Battery technology has been installed on a variety of ship types so far, but for container shipping the use of batteries is at a nascent stage. Market leader Mærsk Line has been assessing the potential

Shipping moves 80% of global trade and is the most energy efficient way of transporting goods. As such shipping plays[ds_preview] a crucial role in creating growth, jobs and opportunities across the global economy. That said, and with the recent agreement made by the UN International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to reduce CO2 emissions from shipping by at least 50% in 2050, low carbon technologies are needed to ensure shipping can continue to fuel the global economy in a future low carbon world.Battery technology has been installed on a variety of ship types so far, but for container shipping the use of batteries is at a nascent stage. Batteries are of interest to the industry from both a technical and environmental perspective. Technically, batteries provide both flexibility and balance which, when utilized together, could be key to unlocking the potential of new methods of electrical propulsion. Batteries can also decrease unnecessary fuel consumption and therefore reduce emissions. The opportunity to enhance power management, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions is intriguing.

Maersk has been assessing the potential for battery technology on container ships. Using granular data collected during the voyages of our vessels, maritime technology experts have been able to pinpoint and simulate how and when a battery could potentially be utilised. After reviewing the data, the team developed a simulation of the battery’s operational profile, and evaluated the potential efficiency gains that could be expected. Analysis showed that batteries could be used in a variety of scenarios during a voyage, and that this would ultimately save fuel by allowing engines to operate at higher and more efficient loads. Batteries may also play a role in mitigating unnecessary emissions and potentially enhancing safety on vessels through the provision of an instantaneous source of backup power.

Although clearly a promising technology, the application of batteries in maritime transport is limited presently due to both price and capacity. Additionally, battery technology must be treated with considerable care in a vessel due to the extreme environment in which they would operate and the necessity of the technology to meet rigorous class approval safety standards. Subsequently, it may be a considerable period before we see batteries propelling Triple-E container sized ships across the oceans, but potential step changes in the technology, such the development of solid state batteries, could lead to wider applicability of batteries for a variety of new purposes from a maritime perspective.

With prices dropping and the technology improving exponentially battery technology could have a more significant role to play in meeting the ambitious targets set to cut CO2 emissions. As with all new and promising technologies, Maersk is looking to cooperate with the wider maritime industry to realize and explore the potential of batteries and get charged up for batteries together.

Andrew Mcintosh