Marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy has signed a second deal with Spanish ship owner Mureloil for its energy storage system to power a hybrid tanker.
While installing battery systems in the ferry and workboat sector is well established AYK says it is pioneering the use of diesel electric hybrid systems in the tanker market. As a result, the two tankers being built by Mureloil will be among the first to operate on diesel electric power enabling Mureloil to cut GHG emissions by up to 50%. Emissions in port will be cut entirely as the vessels can operate on full electric power during port operations.
AYK will deliver a 4.2 MWh Aries+ battery system for Mureloil’s 8000 dwt product tanker Bahía Beatriz, currently under construction at Astilleros de Murueta shipyard, outside Bilbao. This follows the successful installation of a similar battery system onboard sister vessel Bahía Candela. The vessels will double Mureloil’s capacity to transport biofuels and methanol, strengthening the shipping line’s presence in the sustainable marine fuels sector.
AYK Energy founder Chris Kruger said: “The time for marine batteries has come. Although these vessels are hybrid diesel electric we are now seeing that the technology is there to go fully electric not just on ferries, OSVs and workboats but also tankers like these. But seeing batteries on tankers is a significant moment for electric power. The energy density of batteries is increasing, the price is reducing and the payback period is quicker. AYK’s latest innovation with Mureloil sends a bold message that batteries are fundamental to maritime’s decarbonisation journey. Batteries are just getting bigger and better all the while slashing more emissions.”
The Aries+ battery system is made from high energy performing LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) technology which AYK says can outperform Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) batteries.
Kruger added: “NMC has been the most commonly used battery chemistry because of its supposed greater density, but its chemistry is known to be much more dangerous than LFP. AYK is showing that LFP can outperform NMC and deliver greater energy density, higher safety and better value.”
AYK Energy’s latest range of marine batteries has received type approval from DNV. The company says that demand for battery power is further being fuelled by mounting regulatory pressure on ship owners, who face greater scrutiny and penalties under new laws like FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS.
Kruger said: “The regulatory squeeze is real. With the new sustainability reporting requirements, ship operators know they need affordable carbon cutting solutions like marine batteries that deliver.”
Image: Mureloil 8000 dwt hybrid tanker (source: AYK Energy)
