SOERMAR PARTICIPATES IN THREE EUROPEAN PROPOSALS THAT SEEK TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THE SHIPBUILDING SECTOR

SOERMAR (Society for the Study of Maritime Resources) has participated in the preparation of three proposals for European projects that seek to improve energy efficiency in the naval sector and that together would involve an investment of more than 31,66 million euros. These are the Hyper powered vessel battery charging system (HYPOBATT), Optimal Design of Integrated Sustainable Ship Energy Systems (ODISSES) and Development and Demonstration of High Temperature Fuel Cell System for Waterborne Transport (PERFORN) projects.

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The HYPOBATT project high-power ship battery hyper-chargers, aims to improve the efficiency of fast recharging systems by 20% in a realistic environment through a modular, fast and simple system, and to develop new models of business for battery-powered boats. The scientific-technological results that are expected to be achieved are the reduction to less than 30 seconds of the connection time after mooring, of 20% of the waiting time for the preparation of the load, of 10% of the loading time, as well as two full-scale demonstrators and the development of a redundant modular approach that reduces service and maintenance costs from 10 to 7.5%.

From an economic point of view, the project “will allow the development of new business models for electric vessels, the technological leadership of Europe in fast battery charging systems and create ports with zero emissions”, in the opinion of Alfonso Carneros, technical director of SOERMAR. For her part, Eva Novoa, general director of this entity, points out as social advantages of these new business models “the increase in the competitiveness of Europe, which will result in the creation of employment and growth, in addition to the improvement of the environment. environment”.

Of the 8 work packages in which the project is organized, SOERMAR will participate in 4: the definition of use cases, requirements, and specifications; the business model and interactions of the Group of Stakeholders; standardization and regulations, and dissemination, exploitation and communication.

HYPOBATT involves 19 partners from ten European countries, it will take 42 months and has a budget of 9,833,401 euros.

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Regarding the ODISSES project (Optimal Design of Integrated Sustainable Energy Systems for Ships), it proposes a combination of innovative zero-emission solutions, fuels, operational approaches and technologies, driven by ambitious regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (GHG) and improve energy efficiency by 20%.

Its objective is to develop the next generation of ships to support the transition towards the decarbonisation of maritime transport through an energy efficient next generation plug & play simulation platform. Solutions include novel design, optimized powertrains, waste heat recovery, electrical storage, and use of a digital twin to optimize performance.

The main innovations proposed by the project are: innovative architecture and designs for new boats; global energy and thermal management to achieve increased energy efficiency; development of the digital twin and integrable models and the modular HiL simulation system for testing, as well as the real-time validation of new solutions for power systems of various types of vessels.

SOERMAR’s participation in this project would consist of the realization of a roadmap on the existing regulations focused on reducing energy consumption and reducing GHG gas emissions and on improving knowledge about the application of innovative solutions that allow reducing the energy consumption and emissions in the maritime sector, in line with the Strategic R + D + i Vision 2030 Plan of the European Union.

To carry it out, a budget of 4.99 million euros and 48 months is needed. 15 partners from 9 countries of the European Union and associates participate in the proposal.

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PERFORN (development and demonstration of a high temperature fuel cell system for water transport), for its part, focuses on the development of a combined cycle system SOFC (solid oxide fuel cells) for maritime transport totally innovative. The novelty is that it would be a scalable, modular and profitable system, in addition to complying with the regulations of the maritime sector.

The objectives of this proposal, in which SOERMAR represents the Spanish shipyards, are, among others, to achieve a reduction in gas emissions of 20% compared to conventional fuels, demonstration of the technologies developed in the propulsion environment hybrid and onboard a vessel, and the development of a real plan to enable the SOFC combined cycle system in marine applications.

The consortium that has prepared the proposal is made up of 22 partners from 10 countries. Its budget is 16.834.636 euros, and it is expected to run for 48 months.

“All these projects are integrated into Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation framework program that seeks to make Europe climate neutral by 2030, and it is very important to participate in them, since their materialization can mean, in addition to important innovations and improvements for the shipbuilding sector, the return to Spain of millions of euros of Community funds”, highlights Eva Novoa.

About SOERMAR:

SOERMAR is the Society for the Study of Maritime Resources, an entity made up of the SOERMAR Technological Center and the SOERMAR Technological Center Foundation. Its shareholders and employers are 18 of the main small and medium-sized private Spanish shipyards. Its objective is to improve the competitiveness of shipyards by increasing the efficiency of their industrial activity. For this, his work focuses on the development of R & D & i projects, training and support to shipyards in technical and technological matters, as well as in areas such as quality, organization of production, training, documentation, dissemination, legislation, design or environment. It is also its representative before the different public institutions. At the same time, it encourages and develops cooperative research between shipyards and companies related to shipbuilding and the maritime sector.