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Aquarius MRE System

Wind and Solar Power for Sustainable Shipping

World shipping is a major source of airborne pollution and the movement of


seaborne trade across the world requires vast amounts of bunker oil and
other fossil fuels to be consumed by ships of all sizes. But as more focus is
placed on reducing CO2 emissions and living in a more sustainable way, it
is clear that changes will have to be made to the propulsion and power
systems on-board modern vessels.

Wind power and solar energy are already


popular sources of clean renewable energy on land, so Eco Marine Power
is working with a number of development partners on an international
project to develop the Aquarius MRE (Marine Renewable
Energy) System which will allow ships to be powered in a greener and
more eco-friendly way by using these limitless sources of energy.
The system can be incorporated into existing ship designs as shown on the
right or be integrated into future designs such as the Aquarius Eco
Ship concept which is also being developed by Eco Marine Power.
The Aquarius MRE System is an advanced integrated system of rigid
sails, solar panels, energy storage modules that will enable ships to tap into
renewable energy by harnessing the power provided by the wind and sun.
The array of rigid sails will be automatically positioned to best suit the
prevailing weather conditions and can be lowered and stored when not in
use or in bad weather.

The array of rigid sails are based on EMP's EnergySail technology (Patent
Pending) and can even be used when a ship is at anchor or in harbour.
Clearly theEnergySail is unlike any other sail.
Less Fuel and Less Emissions
The Aquarius MRE System will significantly reduce a ships fuel
consumption and noxious gas emissions. In addition ship owners and
operators will be able to reduce the CO2 footprint of their fleet and employ
the solution on a variety of ships and vessels.

Aquarius MRE System on Eco Ship (with additional solar panels)


When a ship is at anchor or in port the energy storage modules can provide
an alternative source of power and thereby reduce the fuel used by
auxiliary generators. In certain situations it will also be possible for a ship to
operate emission free when in port which will become an increasingly
important capability as port authorities implement strict airborne emission
control regulations.
This innovative system is designed for ships that operate at sea and is not
a solution that has been designed for ferries or other small vessels and
simply scaled up.
Ships that operate at sea differ in design from small vessels that operate on
bays and on harbours, therefore a wind & solar power system for ocean
going ships has to be one that is designed for that purpose. The Aquarius
MRE System is that type of solution.

Although this cutting-edge system is being initially designed for large ships,
much of the technology being developed will also be suitable for smaller
vessels such as coastal freighters, passenger ferries, tourist boats and
Unmanned Surface Vessels. (USV's)
A study is also being conducted to determine if it would be feasible to use
the system on naval and government vessel such as patrol ships.

Key features of
the Aquarius MRE System include ease
of use, fully automated control system, attractive Return on Investment
(ROI) and reliable operation.
The Aquarius MRE System by Eco Marine Power is an innovative
approach to using wind and solar power together on ships and the
technology will help make world shipping greener and cleaner in the years
ahead.
For more about the thinking behind 'Aquarius' please see this article: A
Marine Renewable Energy Solution for Modern Ships.

Innovation & Co-Operation


The development of the system includes the development of a computer
system and a control system architecture to integrate the Aquarius MRE
System with other equipment and systems onboard ships. The

development project also involves a number of companies working as


strategic partners with Eco Marine Power.
Awards and Nominations
The Aquarius MRE System was a finalist in the 2011 Sustainable
Shipping Awards, won a Solution Inspiring Action Award at the 2012
Savannah Ocean Exchange and was nominated for the 2013 Ship
Technology Award.

Aquarius Eco Ship


Renewable Energy on Modern Ships
The Aquarius Eco Ship concept design is the result of a comprehensive study project which focused on optimising the design of a
large ocean going ship such as a bulk carrier or oil tanker to harness the power of the wind & sun by using the Aquarius MRE
System. This study was started by Eco Marine Power Co. Ltd (EMP) in May 2011 and has attracted worldwide interest.
The centre piece of the Aquarius Eco Ship is the Aquarius MRE System - an innovative fuel saving and emission reduction
technology that incorporates a variety of elements including solar panels, energy storage modules, a computer control systems and
an advanced rigid sail design.

Aquarius Eco Ship by Eco Marine Power

Low Emission, Wind Assisted Shipping with Solar Power


The Aquarius Eco Ship is a low emission & green shipping focused solution which has been designed to be highly flexible and
configurable so that the concept can be applied to most ship sizes and types. Applications for the system include bulkers, oil
tankers, survey ships, passenger ferries, cruise ships, car carriers & even unmanned surface vessels.
In addition to the Aquarius MRE System, a future Aquarius Eco Ship would be fitted with other fuel saving measures such as an
advanced electrical propulsion system, an optimised hull design and waste heat recovery technologies. Fuel cell technology could
also be incorporated into the design.
This combination of technologies could lead to fuel savings of 40% or more and also dramatically reduce the emission of noxious
gases such as Sulphur Oxides (SOx) & Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). In addition the use of renewable energy would reduce the vessels
carbon footprint.
An Aquarius Eco Ship could include enough solar panels for a 1MWp solar system or larger and enough energy storage modules so
that the ship would not need to use auxiliary diesel generators whilst in port, therefore it could operate emissions free when
alongside. The energy storage modules could be charged via the solar panels. by the ships main generators or from shore power
when available.

Both the Aquarius Eco Ship and Aquarius MRE System have been designed to take into account the reality of operating rigid sails
on ocean going ships and include a range of safety features. The rigid sails for example can be lowered and stored when not in use
or during emergencies.

EnergySail Technology
The rigid sails used by the Aquarius Eco Ship form part of Eco Marine Power's EnergySail technology. This renewable energy sail
platform allows for a variety of energy sources to be used and managed via the same system. Solar panels & wind power devices
can be mounted on the rigid sails or elsewhere on the ship in a variety of configurations.
The revolutionary Aquarius MRE System technology will enable ships of all types and sizes to safely use renewable energy in
order to reduce fuel consumption and lower harmful emissions in a cost effective way. The Aquarius Eco Ship is an example of how
this system could be integrated into a new ship design although it is also suitable for existing ship designs and could be retro-fitted
to vessels already in service.
The Aquarius Eco Ship is another example of how Eco Marine Power is developing designs to move shipping towards a more
sustainable future.

EnergySail
Wind & Solar Power for Low Emission Shipping!
The EnergySail (patent pending) is revolutionary device designed by Eco Marine Power that will allow ships to harness the power
of the wind and sun in order to reduce fuel costs plus lower noxious gas and carbon emissions. The EnergySail is unlike any other
sail - it can be used even when a ship is at anchor or in port and has been designed to withstand high winds or even sudden microbursts.

The EnergySailTM is not just another sail!


The EnergySail (patent pending) can be fitted with a range of renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or wind power
devices. It is a truly unique renewable energy platform specifically designed for shipping that can be fitted to a wide variety of
vessels from large Capesize bulk ore carriers to naval and coastguard patrol ships.

Impression of EnergySail Array on Naval Vessel or Survey Ship


A variation of the EnergySail that is suitable for Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV's) and smaller ships such as passenger ferries or
fishing vessels is also being developed.
The EnergySail can be configured to suit the operational profile of a vessel. For example the number & type of solar panels can be
changed or a variety of other equipment can be installed.
This means the device can be configured for a particular type of ship, for the route the vessel operates on and/or the operational
profile or mission profile of the vessel. This makes the EnergySaila truly flexible platform for renewable energy technologies for
lower emission, more environmentally friendly ships.
The flexible nature of the EnergySail design will also allow for it to be upgraded during the life-cycle of the ship it is fitted to so that
newer technologies can be incorporated as they become available such as more efficient solar modules or panels.
It has also been designed so that it will require little maintenance and be robust enough to withstand the harsh conditions of an
operational life at sea.
Although the EnergySail has primarily been designed for Eco Marine Power's Aquarius MRE System other applications for its use
are also being studied.
It could be for example used as a stand-alone unit on a cable laying vessel, coastal tanker or oceanographic ship. In addition a
simplified version of the Aquarius MRE System including a modified EnergySail could be utilised on a range of smaller vessels.
An alternative version of the EnergySail could also be used horizontally.

An example of how the EnergySail could be incorporated into a modern ship design is the Aquarius Eco Ship. This low emission sustainable ship design concept includes an EnergySail array and other technologies that solar & wind power can be used to reduce
fuel consumption and lower noxious gas emissions on commercial ocean going ships.

EnergySail Key Features


o

Flexible design. Can be upgraded and modified after installation if required.

Automatic positioning via computer control system.

Can be integrated with other systems and equipment on-board ships via control system architecture.

Designed to be safe, robust & reliable. Multiple layers of safety are incorporated into the design.

Robust & reliable.

Pathway to low emission shipping!

A Marine Renewable Energy Solution for Modern Ships


Wind & Solar Power at Sea
Wind power has been used by ships as a means of propulsion for thousands of years, but with the advent of the steam and internal
combustion engines during the Industrial Revolution the use of sail power fell away sharply from around the mid-19th century. Today
however there is a resurgent interest in the use of sails for commercial vessels as shipping companies seeks ways to reduce fuel
costs and comply with new airborne maritime mission standards.
Traditional flexible sails with rigging are generally not suitable for large commercial ships, however rigid sails could be a practical
way to utilise wind power on modern ocean-going vessels in order to lower fuel consumption & reduce noxious gas emissions.
Rigid sails are not a new concept and designs vary widely. In the 1970s & 1980s for example two ships in Japan were fitted with
curved rigid sails and in the 1980s Jacques Cousteau, Professor Lucien Malavard and Dr. Bertrand Charrier developed a turbosail
which was then fitted to the research ship Alcyone.
Both of these innovative concepts reduced fuel consumption but for a variety of reasons, rigid sails have to date not gained
widespread acceptance.
Another renewable energy technology suitable for ships is solar power. Over recent years significant advances have been made in
terms of developing solar panels that are lightweight, more efficient and suitable for the harsh marine environment. Already a
number of commercial ocean-going ships have been fitted with solar panels such as Nippon Yusens (NYK) Auriga Leader.
At this stage solar power alone is unable to provide the energy required for propulsion on large ships; however it can be an
important alternative source of power for on-board electrical systems thereby helping to reduce fuel consumption and noxious gas
emissions.
The challenge for system designers is to develop a solution for ships that can tap into the power of the wind and sun - yet be cost
effective, practical and not endanger the crew or vessel.

A Combined Wind & Solar Power Solution for Ships


Unlike land based renewable energy solutions such as solar or wind farms, the area or space available on ships for installing wind &
solar power systems is quite limited. Taking this into account it would appear advantageous to develop a system that can use both
wind and solar power as energy sources plus harness this energy via the same system.
The Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) System being developed by Eco Marine Power will achieve this by using rigid sails
and an array of solar panels.
The Aquarius MRE System (Patent Pending) will use this array of rigid sails and solar panels to form a ship based renewable energy
system. On large ships up to twenty rigid sails could be installed whereas on smaller vessels just one or two sails would be needed.
The Aquarius MRE System is not intended to be a ships primary source of propulsion. Instead the system is being designed to work
alongside other technologies in order to reduce fuel consumption and harmful gas emissions for a variety of ships such as bulk
carriers, oil tankers and cargo ships.

Depending on the number, size, shape and configuration of the rigid sails it is estimated that the system will reduce a vessels annual
fuel consumption by up to 20%.

Aquarius MRE System Technology


Large commercial ships such as bulk carriers and oil tankers operate with a small crew, therefore a renewable energy solution for
these types of vessels needs to be automated.
To achieve this, an advanced computer control system is being developed so that the rigid sails will automatically be positioned to
best suit the prevailing weather conditions.
The rigid sails can be rotated to best use the available wind or if there is no wind, then the solar panels or cells will be able to collect
solar energy during the day. The solar panels could be mounted on the sails or alternatively they could be mounted elsewhere on
the ship.
In addition the control system will monitor the performance of the system and provide a means by which the crew can manually
control the rigid sails if needed via command consoles. These consoles can be located in a variety of positions on-board the ship.
The computer control system will also include a number of safety features to prevent the sails or ship being damaged.
The Aquarius computer control system will be based on the KEI 3240 Computer System developed by KEI System Ltd of Osaka,
Japan. The KEI 3240 Computer System is a highly reliable, marine type approved system that is already in use today. The main
computer unit is able to operate in temperatures ranging from +5oC to 55 oC and the local I/O units are able to operate between +5oC
to 70 oC. This robustness makes it ideal for ship borne applications.
Each rigid sail will be physically raised, lowered & manoeuvred by a positional system which will interface with the computer control
system. The rigid sails will be able to move as an array or individually either automatically as directed by the computer control
system, or via manual commands entered by the crew via the control console(s).
Most importantly the positional system will be able store the rigid sails in a protective housing so that they are not damaged during
storms or do not interfere with cargo loading/unloading operations for example.
Another important feature of the Aquarius MRE System is that it incorporates an advanced energy storage system based on Lithium
Ion technology from Corvus Energy Ltd. Of Vancouver, Canada.
Corvus Energys advanced lithium-polymer battery technology will store energy collected by the solar panels or it can be used to
store power generated by the ships generators. The batteries will then help power the ships electrical equipment or utilized as a
power source when the ship is in harbour or at anchor.
When in port, a ship could use the stored energy in the batteries to significantly reduce the amount of fuel required to operate
generators in areas where shore power is not available. The batteries could also be used as a power source when the ship is at
anchor and will be charged during the day via the solar panels. Using power from the batteries will also satisfy the growing demand
at ports to reduce emissions of Green House Gasses (GHG) and particulate matter.
Additionally the power stored in the battery modules could be used as a highly reliable back-up power source.
Each AT6500 series battery module from Corvus Energy has the ability to be combined to form a custom sized pack - from 6.5 kWh
to multi-megawatt sized applications. The modules can be configured in any number of ways to build the size of battery pack
required and will allow for the energy storage component of the Aquarius MRE System to be highly flexible.
The AT6500 modules are also inherently safe and capable of being used in the most demanding environments as the modules and
the connectors are fully sealed.
Further important features of the battery modules are that they are 99% recyclable, lightweight & require no ongoing maintenance.

At this stage it is planned to utilise CIS solar module technology because of their performance plus they also comply with European
RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) regulations. However other solar cell technologies are being studied and may also
used.
On a large bulk ore carrier the total installed solar power could be 500 kWp or more. However as the cost of solar panels decrease
and their efficiency increases, it may become feasible to expand the capacity of the installed solar power towards 1 MWp.

Future Developments
The large scale use of modern renewable energy technology on ships is still in its infancy. As various technologies develop in the
years ahead, we are likely to see the adoption of wind & solar power solutions in a variety of forms become widespread across the
shipping sector.
The control, energy storage and power management systems for these solutions is sometimes over-looked but they will play a
critical role in terms of making renewable energy a viable source of energy on-board the ships of the future.
For more information about the various development projects at Eco Marine Power (EMP) please
visit:http://www.ecomarinepower.com/en/research

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