Marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy is preparing to showcase what it describes as the world’s first swappable containerised marine battery system at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg next month.
The company’s new Cosmos battery is designed to simplify the installation and deployment of battery systems for commercial vessels, with the aim of reducing engineering requirements and project costs. AYK has already begun taking orders after successfully completing the New Technology Qualification (TQ) stage, which demonstrates that a new technology is sufficiently mature to enter class approval.
AYK Energy founder Chris Kruger said the system could change how batteries are integrated into vessels.
“We are very proud to bring this battery to the global marine market,” he said. “A vast amount of engineering time and investment has gone into this. The Cosmos containerised battery will simplify installation, reduce engineering complexity, lower project costs and speed up implementation. The system also removes the need for a dedicated battery room which can be a highly complex engineering job and significant cost.”
The containerised design allows batteries to be either permanently installed or exchanged depending on operational requirements. Units can be charged away from ports, transported when required and loaded onto vessels, offering flexibility for different voyage energy demands.
“The beauty is in the ease and flexibility of use,” he said. “Our containerised batteries can be stacked onshore and charged off-site to be transported to ports when required. They can then be loaded onto vessels at speed and tailored to voyage energy requirements perhaps loading dozens of batteries at a time to meet short sea fully electric requirements in the EU for example to help meet ETS standards.”
The system can also provide temporary hotel-load power while vessels are in port or operate as a permanent battery solution for hybrid and fully electric vessels.
Cosmos incorporates eight independent safety levels, alongside IP67 protection and an A60 fire rating.
AYK is primarily targeting ferries, RoPax and passenger vessels, while the system can also be used in tugboats, feeder vessels, hybrid commercial craft, fully electric vessels and other workboats.
“We firmly believe the Cosmos battery will remove barriers to electrification, making battery technology easier to adopt, and as a result accelerate maritime decarbonisation,” he said. “This is the future being delivered today.”
