Images Credit : Trygve Finkelsen and Shutterstock

       As the maritime industry faces mounting pressure from governments and stakeholders to reduce carbon emissions, the need for innovative, sustainable energy solutions is more pressing than ever. While alternative fuels such ammonia, hydrogen and methanol are being evaluated, many obstacles remain before mass adoption is achieved. One other option being considered is marine batteries, which can also reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. However, there are still a number of challenges associated with using batteries in a maritime setting, namely:

1.  Environmental impact of producing and disposing of batteries 

Producing batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, requires raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, the extraction of which can harm the environment. Mining these materials often leads to ecosystem disruption, deforestation, water pollution, and soil degradation. In addition, batteries also have a limited lifespan, usually between 5 to 10 years, after which they must be disposed of in a safe manner. Improper disposal of batteries can cause harmful chemicals to contaminate soil and water, causing significant environmental damage. 

2. On-board safety concerns

In addition, the use of batteries on ships also have inherent safety risks due to their components, such as the electrolyte, anode, and cathode. Under conditions like physical damage, overcharging, or high temperatures, they can experience thermal runaway, leading to explosions and uncontrollable fires. This process is often triggered by internal short circuits, mechanical damage, or manufacturing defects. Lithium-ion battery fires are especially dangerous due to the release of toxic gasses like hydrogen fluoride, posing health risks to seafarers. Simply transporting these batteries by ocean going freight can be dangerous as fires can spread rapidly in confined spaces on vessels, which may lack adequate fire suppression systems. Additionally, the maritime industry must provide comprehensive crew training to recognize early signs of thermal runaway and properly respond to battery-related emergencies using specialized firefighting techniques.

3. Range limitations for long haul routes.

Batteries are not ideal for powering maritime vessels on long-haul voyages mainly due to their limited energy density, which restricts the amount of energy they can store relative to their weight and volume. Ships need a tremendous amount of power for extended durations, and current battery technology would require an impractically large number of heavy batteries to meet the demands of long-haul travel. This excessive weight not only reduces cargo capacity but also increases fuel consumption for hybrid vessels, diminishing efficiency gains. Additionally, recharging large battery banks on a voyage requires either extended downtime at ports or complex infrastructure, both of which limit the practicality and economic viability for long-haul shipping. 

Given these challenges, can batteries have a material  impact in the maritime space in the near future?

Start-up Fleetzero, a trailblazer in the clean energy space, believes they can. Fleetzero is at the forefront of addressing the challenges of adopting batteries in the shipping industry, offering new marine battery technology designed to decarbonize ocean freight. To start with, they claim their battery technology is free from nickel, manganese, and cobalt, minimizing the environmental impact associated with raw material sourcing. Fleetzero’s main product, the Leviathan battery, aims to change how ships are powered, contributing to a more environmentally friendly future for international shipping. 

Images Credit : fleetzero

To meet safety needs, one of the features of the Leviathan battery is its proprietary passive fire prevention system, which ensures true cell-to-cell thermal runaway and fire prevention, enhancing safety on board. The modular design allows for scalability, accommodating systems from 200 kWh to hundreds of Megawatt-hours, making it versatile for various marine applications.

Energy-wise, the Leviathan battery has a volumetric density of 240 watt-hours per liter (Wh/l), close to the maximum densities currently achievable in batteries which range from 50 Wh/l to 260 Wh/l. While most batteries are designed for short ranges, Fleetzero believes its technology allows for greater efficiency and durability, making it particularly suitable to meet the demanding requirements of larger vessels while promoting zero-emission operations. To address the long charging times required by batteries, FleetZero’s business model looks to monetize through services such as battery swaps instead of simply selling batteries in a one-off transaction. 

In addition to monetizing via battery swapping, FleetZero wants to focus on both converting traditional diesel ships to electric power and supporting new builds of long-range electric cargo ships.  Fleetzero also plans to operate the ships with a battery swapping system based on battery packs designed into shipping containers. This approach addresses the need to decarbonize maritime shipping while providing flexibility in operations. Thanks to the progress they have made to date, Fleetzero has garnered support from Breakthrough Energy, Flexport, Founder Fund, MCJ Collectiive McKinley Capital, and Y combinator. 

The start-up is aiming for a maiden voyage of their electric cargo ship soon, demonstrating their commitment to bringing these innovations to the market​. The Leviathan battery has already undergone testing on a retrofitted demonstration vessel named Pacific Joule, a 2007-built anchor handling tug. This ship was outfitted with Fleetzero’s energy-dense battery packs in 2023 to showcase its capabilities. The trial focused on demonstrating the potential of the Leviathan system to enable medium to long-range electric shipping, overcoming the current limitations of battery-powered vessels that are typically restricted to short distances.

       The technology aims to expand the use of batteries in larger vessels by offering higher energy density and safety, making zero-emission shipping through battery electrification potentially viable for the first time. Fleetzero claim the results from these trials are promising, with the system showing the potential to reduce or eliminate emissions for various other ship related operations as well, including port and anchorage activities.

The next challenge will be addressing the regulatory framework. The global regulations governing marine batteries vary by region, with a focus on safety, environmental sustainability, and emerging standards. In North America, the U.S. and Canada prioritize safety through organizations like the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which set strict guidelines for battery installation, ventilation, and fire prevention. In Europe, the emphasis is on environmental regulations, such as the EU Batteries Directive, which mandates proper battery disposal and recycling to reduce environmental impact. In the Asia-Pacific region, countries like Australia and New Zealand are developing regulations focused on safety and compliance, overseen by their respective maritime authorities. In the Middle East and Africa, regulatory approaches vary widely, with some nations adopting international standards while others are still evolving. 

Fleetzero’s technology and business model still needs to be proven and important regulatory issues will need to be tackled. It’s also apparent that their batteries will not be suitable for longer haul journey’s typical in global maritime trade. However, if Fleetzero’s marine batteries can live up to their potential, they could still provide a practical pathway to help reduce carbon emissions in shipping in the short term. 

References

Fleetzero Marine Battery Products — Fleetzero. (n.d.). Fleetzero. https://www.fleetzero.com/marine-products 

About Our Company — Fleetzero. (n.d.). Fleetzero. https://www.fleetzero.com/about-fleetzero 

Jobs at Fleetzero. (n.d.). Y Combinator. https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/fleetzero/jobs 

Battery, B. (2024b, May 20). Baterai Lithium Perahu Listrik 101: Semua yang Perlu Anda Ketahui. [Video]. Bonnen Battery. https://www.bonnenbatteries.com/id/electric-boat-lithium-batteries-101-everything-you-need-to-know-before-making-the-switch/ 

Fleetzero develops battery-swapping for ships – electrive.com. (2022, March 17). electrive.com. https://www.electrive.com/2022/03/17/fleetzero-develops-battery-swapping-for-ships/

New Orleans Startup Seeks to Develop Swappable-Battery Electric Ships. (2022, March 15). The Maritime Executive. https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/new-orleans-startup-seeks-to-develop-swappable-battery-electric-ships 

Malewar, A. (2022b, March 24). Fleetzero building fleet of long-range electric cargo ships. Inceptive Mind. https://www.inceptivemind.com/fleetzero-building-fleet-long-range-electric-cargo-ships/23847/ 

Redway, & Redway. (2024, October 10). Understanding Regional Regulations for Marine Battery Use | Redway Battery. Redway Battery | Deep Cycle LiFePO4 Batteries Wholesale. https://www.redway-tech.com/understanding-regional-regulations-for-marine-battery-use/#5_Compliance_Implications_for_Boat_Owners_and_Operators

Dangers of lithium-ion batteries on vessels – Marine Safety Consultants. (n.d.). https://marinesafetyconsultants.com/dangers-of-lithium-ion-batteries-on-vessels/

Coldewey, D. (2022, March 30). Fleetzero looks to capsize the shipping world with electric vessels serving forgotten ports. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/15/fleetzero-looks-to-capsize-the-shipping-world-with-electric-vessels-serving-forgotten-ports/ 

MOL’s VC Invests in Developer of Energy-Dense Marine Batteries Fleetzero. (2024, March 29). The Maritime Executive. https://maritime-executive.com/article/mol-s-vc-invests-in-developer-of-energy-dense-marine-batteries-fleetzero 

Contributor : Ariana tri Asti
Reviewer : Imam Buchari