Andorra headquartered marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy is gearing up production after winning a high profile deal to supply Greenpeace International’s new flagship vessel.
The vessel is being built at Freire Shipyard in Spain and the deal was secured through a partner system integrator, with AYK supplying a three megawatt-hour (MWh) Aires + advanced battery system recently approved by classification society DNV (see notes to editors 1).
The new vessel – due for delivery in 2027 – will be the most environmentally advanced ship in Greenpeace International’s fleet, designed to operate with near-zero emissions. Propulsion will be generated by two electric drive propellers as well as 1,746 sqm of sails, supported by solar panels and the AYK battery packs. Greenpeace International says the vessel will be as close to fossil fuel-free as possible at launch and is designed to transition to 100 per cent green power as soon as technically possible.
AYK founder Chris Kruger said winning the deal is a major endorsement of the company’s technology.
“We are extremely proud to be supporting this transformative Greenpeace International project alongside our integration partner,” he said. “It’s a flagship vessel not only for Greenpeace International, but for the future of low-emission shipping. This deal reflects growing recognition of AYK’s expertise in safe, high-performance marine batteries. AYK’s batteries will be critical to enabling silent, zero-emissions operations during sensitive campaigns and operations in emissions-restricted areas.”
The deal follows a strong year for AYK Energy. The company installed two 12 megawatt-hour (MWh) Orion+ batteries, on Brittany Ferries Guillaume de Normandie hybrid electric ferry after installing the exact same battery system aboard its sister ship Saint-Malo. They are among the largest marine battery installations in the world. The new build vessels are now in operation and can operate on zero emission battery power while entering and exiting port.
Mr Kruger said batteries are becoming more attractive as pressure piles onto vessel operators to be greener (see notes to editors 1).
“AYK aims to be the prime innovator of electric ships,” he said. “We all want to see fewer emissions and green shipping. But batteries will only be part of the decarbonization agenda if ship owners see a financial benefit. There has to be a compelling business case. And that’s what the new AYK range, which will be installed on the Greenpeace International vessel, is all about – mass adoption of batteries that can pay for themselves within a matter of years.”
Chris Kruger is known as one of the founders of marine battery technology, having worked first in the electric car industry before moving to marine. He developed the battery for the first hybrid propulsion ferry, Prinsesse Benedikte, and the first fully electric ferry, Ampere in 2012. Now based in Andorra, he established AYK Energy in 2018 building its first factory in 2023 China to be close to the center of the battery industry supply chain which he says is 10 years ahead of Europe in China.
Notes to editors
1) In June 2025 the classification society DNV, approved AYK Energy’s Pisces, Pisces +, OrionAN, OrionAN+ as well as aluminum versions of AYK legacy modules setting new standards in clean energy marine propulsion.
2) More ports like Rotterdam, Antwerp, LA, Long Beach and Singapore are now requiring low emission or zero emissions operations. While the European Union is targeting operators via the Emissions trading scheme (ETS), which issues fines and penalties if ships do not comply with emissions reporting and can even deny port access for repeated breaches. The EU is further running the FuelEU maritime programme which imposes limits on the carbon intensity of a ships energy and encourages use of green fuels.
Separately the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has created the Net-zero Framework which is the first in the world to combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing across an entire industry sector.
Approved by the Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 83rd session (MEPC 83) from 7 – 11 April 2025, the measures include a new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.
These measures, set to be formally adopted in October 2025 before entry into force in 2027, will become mandatory for large ocean-going ships over 5000 gross tonnage, which emit 85 per cent of the total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from international shipping.
Under the draft regulations, ships will be required to comply with:
Global fuel standard: Ships must reduce, over time, their annual greenhouse gas fuel intensity (GFI) – that is, how much GHG is emitted for each unit of energy used. This is calculated using a well-to-wake approach.
Global economic measure: Ships emitting above GFI thresholds will have to acquire remedial units to balance its deficit emissions, while those using zero or near-zero GHG technologies will be eligible for financial rewards