Canadian-based lithium-ion energy storage system (ESS) developer Corvus Energy has won investment from the largest oil producer on the Norwegian continental shelf.
Gas and oil producer Statoil has agreed to pump cash into Corvus, which specialises in advanced lithium-ion ESSs for maritime hybrid and fully electric propulsion systems.
The Richmond, Canada-based company powers more than 35 commercial offshore supply vessels, with an installed base of more than 30 megawatt hours.
Corvus’s ESSs are made up of 24 lithium-ion cells and have a battery management system in which all parameters are programmable. It is scalable from 6.5 kilowatt hours at 48VDC to multiple megawatt hours and 1100VDC.
New liquid cooled battery modules support more aggressive load profiles with a smaller battery system, reducing total capacity required as well as space and weight.
Battery hybrid propulsion increases the energy efficiency of a vessel by optimisng the operation of its diesel engines, applying the battery system energy in lower power ranges and when extra power is needed, thus lessening dynamic load changes allowing engine operation at relatively constant power levels.
Initially, the ESS will be used in offshore vessels, with the long-term potential to apply the same technology to rigs and platforms.