Polaris is delighted to be working with one of the prime disruptors in the marine battery sector AYK Energy Ltd. whose technology features on the newly delivered ‘H2 Barge 2’ hydrogen powered container vessel
AYK Energy’s founder Chris Kruger and sales director Edward Carney attended the handover of the vessel to Future Proof Shipping at Holland Shipyards Group (HSG) in Werkendam.
The zero emission barge features two high density AYK DNV approved Aries 88 lithium batteries. The 125 watt hour/kilogram (Wh/kg) batteries were installed as part of a complete retrofit at HSG which saw the vessel’s diesel engine replaced with a propulsion system consisting of PEM fuel cells, hydrogen storage, AYK’s battery packs and an electric drive train.
Following the retrofit, the vessel now has a cargo capacity of 190 TEU and will operate on the busy Rotterdam – Duisburg route along the Rhine.
Mr Kruger said the project is the culmination of years of R & D work to refine what AYK believes is ‘the safest, best value marine battery system in the world.’
“This is a landmark moment for AYK Energy and we are very pleased to work with the talented teams at HSG and FPS who share our vision to decarbonise short sea shipping. The battery system on this vessel is easy to install, built to exceed class requirements, with a higher density than many other batteries on the market.”
Mr Kruger added: “AYK is one of the few battery manufacturers to exclusively use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and have developed a system where the LFP chemistry is safer, with greater energy density than Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC).”
Mr Kruger said NMC has been the most commonly used battery chemistry because of its supposed greater density, but its chemistry is known to be much more dangerous than LFP. He said AYK is now showing that LFP can outperform NMC and deliver greater energy density, higher safety and better value.
