J.D. Irving Group company Atlantic Towing, headquartered in Saint John, Canada, says it has selected Vard Electro to integrate a hybrid battery system into the diesel-electric propulsion plant of its 2017-built PSV Atlantic Shrike.
According to Vard Electro, Atlantic Towing is the first company in the Canadian offshore oil and gas industry to implement this multiple-mode application of battery technologies on a single vessel. The firm has received funding for the project through Petroleum Research Newfoundland & Labrador (PRNL) as a component of the offshore research, development and demonstration program of Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
Vard Electro will deliver one of its containerized SeaQ Energy Storage Systems (ESS) to supply hybrid battery power. The main system components are all fitted into a self-contained deck house, facilitating rapid installation. Control and monitoring of the hybrid system are handled by the energy management system (EMS) that communicates with the existing control systems onboard.
The system includes modes for peak shaving, spinning reserve and zero-emission transit. By using the batteries to absorb and dispense energy through load fluctuations and running the engines at optimal load, significant efficiency improvements in fuel consumption and emission reduction can be achieved.
With a steady increase in demand for hybrid battery systems, Vard Electro highlights that it is important to manage resources in an ethical and environmentally conscious way. To this end, 99% of the battery weight can be recycled, says the company.
“We share the ambitions of Atlantic Towing and are looking forward to implementing the products and integrated solutions that will lead to a greener industry. The innovative design and extended battery size offer a range of benefits and will be a perfect fit for the operational profile of this vessel,” commented Peter Pilskog, vice president of sales and business development at Vard Electro.
