TRIESTE – The use of innovative technologies based on superconductors and supercapacitors for on-board energy storage on ships with electric propulsion. A possible solution to a key issue: the strain placed on batteries and conventional storage systems when they must immediately deliver large amounts of power for harbour manoeuvres or sudden acceleration.
This is the aim of the V-ACCESS project, coordinated by the University of Trieste, focused on developing a next-generation hybrid energy storage system (HESS) that combines SMES technology—Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage—based on MgB2 (magnesium diboride) with supercapacitors. Used in support of batteries, the combination of these two technologies offers a major step forward in both performance and reliability for energy storage and the delivery of high-power pulses. These topics were discussed in Trieste in recent days during the “ELECTRIC SHIP SUPER STORAGE EVENT” held within the V-ACCESS project, specifically focused on shipboard electrification through the use of innovative technologies.
All the partner companies and university research bodies took part in the event, within the consortium (14 partners from six European countries) which also includes Fincantieri, VARD, RINA, RSE and SINTEF, in addition to the University of Trieste. The unique features of the proposed solution, a note from the University of Trieste explains, represent the strength of a technology that will find applications not only in shipping and the electrification of vessels, but also in energy-intensive industrial sectors. Moreover, innovation in storage systems will play a fundamental role in power-supply systems and will also be essential to balance energy production and consumption in electricity grids, responding to the growing integration of renewable sources and the objectives of the Green Deal.
The advantage of the solution studied by V-Access—funded with European resources worth €5 million and optimised to integrate with on-board battery systems—lies in the hybrid management of an MgB2 superconducting SMES unit designed and built by ASG Superconductors and supercapacitors designed and manufactured by Skeleton. SMES superconductor technology, the University note adds, is ideal for short-term, high-power energy storage, making it perfect for power modulation and instantaneous voltage stabilisation, especially during harbour manoeuvres.
