Samsung Heavy gets DNV GL type approval for lithium-ion battery system

Shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) reports that it has received a type approval certificate from DNV-GL for a marine lithium ion battery system, jointly developed with sister company Samsung SDI. This is the first such type approval to be issued a South Korean company

Samsung Heavy says the newly developed lithium ion battery system,
 is an eco-friendly technology and that, as the global demand for environmentally friendly technologies is higher than ever, there is a growing trend toward the application of battery systems as efficient auxiliary power units for large-scale commercial ships and offshore units.

In line with the market trend, SHI teamed up with Samsung SDI, a global battery manufaturer, to jointly develop a lithium ion battery system assuring high performance and safety from various hazards on board, such as vibration, electromagnetic waves, dust, submergence, fire, etc.

SHI says the type approval certification enables the company to produce a lithium ion battery system at a reasonable price in South Korea, “instead of using costly lithium ion battey systems predominantly supplied by large-scale equipment makers in Northern Europe where environment regulations are stricter.”

“The implementation of the recently developed modular battery system will provide high versatility to meet specific operational demands such as adjustment of battery capacity according to vessel size and power usage. Not only that, we will be able to achieve cost competitiveness by using a domestic system,” said Shim, Yong-Lae, Vice President of SHI Ship & Offshore Research Institute. “By securing the battery system technology applicable to all types of vessels, SHI will take the advantageous position in the competition for orders for vessels.”