Saft to supply battery systems for hybrid ferry

JUNE 23, 2015 — Bagnolet, France, headquartered Saft S.A. has won a contract to supply state-of-the-art Li-ion (lithium ion) battery systems to Rotterdam headquarterd Imtech Marine which (as we reported earlier) will supply the electric and hybrid propulsion system for the third hybrid ferry ordered from the Glagow shipyard of Ferguson Marine by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.

Two Saft Seanergy systems will be at the heart of the vessel’s diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system and energy management system.

The ferry is set to enter service in autumn 2016, carrying up to 150 passengers and 23 cars or two HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles) and will have a service speed of nine knots. Its fuel consumption will be significantly lower than a conventional ferry, leading to fuel and CO2 emissions at least one fifth lower than a conventional arrangement.

As a modular system, Seanergy can be scaled to meet any requirements up to 750 V. The modules are based on Saft’s Li-ion Super Phosphate (SLFP) cell chemistry. Saft says this offers the advantage of improved high energy capability and optimized total cost of ownership when compared with standard Li-ion phosphate technologies.

In January 2015, Bureau Veritas delivered the highest quality assessment for the Seanergy modules, establishing that the design conforms to recognised industry quality and certification standards.

The two Seanergy systems, which provide a total of 800 kWh of energy storage, can power the vessel in battery mode only and in hybrid mode in combination with a diesel generator. The batteries will be charged overnight from shore supply while the ferry is in port. When at sea, Imtech’s energy management system will balance the energy delivered by the diesel genset and battery systems to make propulsion as efficient and clean as possible, enabling the genset to run at peak efficiency.

“Interest in hybrid propulsion is growing fast in the maritime sector as ship owners and operators come under pressure to meet more stringent energy efficiency targets. This contract for a very high profile ferry service in Scotland is further confirmation that Saft’s Li-ion technology offers a reliable, high performance and fully commercialized solution for hybrid propulsion on even the largest seagoing vessels,” said Jayesh Vir, Saft’s Key Account Manager for the Marine Segment.