Focus Area: Maritime Green Technologies
Overview
From 2030, all new harborcraft operating in Singapore’s port waters must be fully electric, use B100 biofuel, or be compatible with net-zero fuels like hydrogen. Despite the push for electrification, adoption is slow due to limited battery energy density and high costs. How can battery solutions be made more effective for maritime applications?
Importance
- Current battery energy density cannot support large or long-distance vessels.
- High battery costs and retrofitting investments impede adoption.
- Marine batteries have auxiliary systems making them heavy and bulky.
- Battery charging and discharging generate heat, leading to faster deterioration.
Market Potential
- Applicable to all-electric vessels, including Singapore’s harborcraft population of 1,600.
- The global electric vessel market was valued at USD 7.98 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% from 2023 to 2030.
Current Efforts
- Lithium-sulfur batteries offer 50% higher energy density than Li-ion but face short lifespan issues and have not been commercialized.
Solution Criteria
- Minimum of 500 kW battery for harborcraft.
- Must be safe for maritime use.
- Needs to be cost-effective with minimal modifications, such as lightweight designs.
Potential Solutions
- High energy density to enable fast charging.
- Re-use of batteries from electric vehicles.
- Batteries compatible with fast charging (charge rate of more than 2C).
- Reduce the energy density gap between Li-ion batteries and Marine Gas Oil from 40 times to 2 times.
- Alternative chemistries like Lithium-Sulfur and Lithium-Sodium.
These solutions will make electrification more practical and economically viable for the maritime sector, supporting sustainable development.