About

The partners of the Motorways of the Sea CEF Action, “Sea Li-ion” have come together to map out innovative ideas and sustainable solutions to boost electrification of the maritime sector using lithium-ion batteries on vessels.

Today, many shipowners are considering battery power for propulsion. However, what is holding them back is the availability of shore-side power, the slow speed of charging and the capacity for it.

Purpose

Motivated by the ambition to significantly decrease the environmental impact on a key route. The Sea Li-ion project will prove the environmental and economic case for ships to be able to run solely on electricity.

 

Scope

The proposed Sea Li-ion actions, in the form of a study is the first step in a two-step approach towards establishing the options and requirements for greater electrification. The second step, outside the scope of this call, will be to build the two ESSs. To the extent possible, using recovered or recycled, car and other, batteries.

Whereas the project is focused on the Gothenburg-Kiel route, the action envisions a fully functioning, scalable, and replicable fast-charging system for all types of electrical vessels using onshore power supply.

These ESSs are to be placed in the ports of Gothenburg and Kiel. Both ports form important multimodal hubs in their respective regions, linking seagoing vessels to roads, rail-, and inland waterways. The ports also have the potential to cater to a growing interest for e-vessels in the Baltic and North Sea. Their capacity for fast charging reduces shipowners concerns of future availability of shore side electrical power.

Since the size and cost of batteries have, and will, continue to decrease, battery power is an attractive alternative to conventional fuel for shipping. In addition, using recycled batteries would provide important strengthening of the battery value-chain. By extending the life cycle of this energy- and raw-materials-intensive industry.