Sweden’s SeaFjord Energy has developed the world’s first e-bunker vessel, delivering electricity to ships in port or at sea.
The ground-breaking new type of vessel creates the opportunity for the shipping industry at sea to become completely climate neutral, the company said.
“The e-bunker vessel represents a new era in the shipping industry and enables more vessels to install battery packs and also enables them to operate completely emission-free.”
The vessel sports a large battery pack, delivering an output of up to 50 MW, with a normal charge taking about 60 minutes. It has been developed in collaboration with ship designers FKAB and can be charged with energy from shore connections or directly from a wind farm. This energy can then be transported to recharge battery packs on board other vessels or supply entire ships without battery packs with electricity.
SeaFjord said the ship can also be used for trading with energy, be charged at beneficial times or locations, deliver energy at other times or other onshore locations, and be used as a backup resource in emergencies or crises.
“For large vessels, there is currently only a limited possibility of shore connections in port and an expansion of the infrastructure is both expensive and in many cases not possible,” said Elias Magnusson, chief operating officer at SeaFjord Energy, adding: “Our new e-bunker vessel delivers green energy as electrons, at the places the customer needs it. It drastically increases the possibilities for vessels to become electrified and operate emission-free at sea and in ports and fjords to a greater extent.”
According to the company, the amount of energy to be delivered is sufficient for a ferry to sail from the south of Sweden to the north of Germany. The vessel’s fast charging option at sea “enables ships to travel longer distances without unnecessary stops in ports or long breaks for charging”.
