By converting waste heat directly into electrical power, the newly-introduced Alfa Laval E PowerPack is claimed to offer a game-changing advance in marine sustainability.
As an integrated unit for improving a vessel’s EEDI/EEXI and CII, it is said to removes many tonnes of CO2 per year, and significantly lower fuel consumption.
Waste heat is a readily available but under-utilised energy source on board. Heat in the engine exhaust gas accounts for 50% of the energy from combusted fuel, and there is additional heat to recover from steam and liquids. With the launch of the E PowerPack, these heat sources can be made to work for cost savings and compliance with sustainability requirements.
The E-PowerPack uses Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology to turn waste heat into clean electrical power. By means of a liquid-gas phase change, it can generate power from both high-temperature and low-temperature heat sources, ranging from engine exhaust gas at 550°C to jacket cooling water at 75°C. It is a modular solution, allowing units with a net electrical output of up to 100kW or 200kW to be combined in a larger system.
Danny Ingemann, Alfa Laval Head of Global Sales, said: “The E-PowerPack is compact, extraordinarily versatile and suitable for all vessels and fuels. That makes it a powerful addition to Alfa Laval’s other waste heat recovery solutions, which have supported energy efficiency for decades. By applying energy that would otherwise go lost, shipowners can save money, boost their environmental profile and stay competitive as regulations tighten.”
The E-PowerPack reduces fuel consumption and use of the auxiliary engines, providing payback in as little as 2–3 years. The same reductions improve EEDI/EEXI and CII, enabling the E-PowerPack to protect long-term vessel profitability.
Ingemann continued: “The E-PowerPack helps shipowners achieve the necessary index and retain a favourable CII rating for longer. That lets them avoid imposed operating limits, but it also supports a greener profile and potentially higher charter values. Such advantages add to the immediate E-PowerPack benefits of reduced fuel costs and emissions.”
As the marine industry continues to decarbonise, the E-PowerPack is expected to play a wider role. Because fuels like carbon-neutral methanol and carbon-free ammonia will be more expensive, shipowners will need savings to offset higher costs. Moreover, solutions like the E PowerPack can be key to using these fuels.
Ingemann said: “Methanol and ammonia contain less energy than today’s marine fuels, and it will be a challenge to produce sufficient amounts for the world fleet using only renewable energy sources. This is yet another reason for vessels to maximise their fuel efficiency, ensuring that little or none of the fuel energy goes to waste. The E-PowerPack will make a critical contribution to that balance, alongside fuel cells and other solutions that Alfa Laval has in the pipeline.”
