Maritime Electrification: A Key Enabler of Shipping’s Net Zero Transition

The introduction of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) revised greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy in 2023 defined the direction of travel for the shipping industry over the coming decades, providing a roadmap that will support the transition to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.

As part of these measures, shipping is quickly approaching the 2030 checkpoint, by which time the industry must deliver a 20% reduction in carbon emissions – with hopes of achieving 30% – compared to 2008 baselines. When combined with the recent outcomes from MEPC 83 in April, in which the IMO approved the new Net Zero Framework to be formally adopted in October 2025, the industry is under significant pressure to show tangible reductions in carbon emissions from their operations.

As a result, all available zero or near-zero GHG technologies must be engaged in order to support the reduction of carbon emissions. This will involve combining practical operational solutions such as reducing speed, voyage optimization, and weather routing, with technical innovations such as wind-assisted propulsion, as well as energy-saving devices.

Marine electrification technologies represent such an energy-saving option. Although not explicitly discussed during MEPC 83, marine electrification can be a key enabler of the industry’s decarbonization transition, supporting reductions in GHG emissions, whilst also reducing maintenance requirements and allowing for more flexibility in the powertrain arrangements onboard.

BV has released a technical paper, Maritime Electrification: Maritime Battery Systems and Onshore Power Supply, which focuses on two emerging pathways that can support the development of greater maritime electrification, namely Energy Storage Systems (ESS) utilizing lithium-ion (li-ion) battery technology, and Onshore Power Supply (OPS) systems.

According to the Maritime Battery Forum (MBF), as of March 2024, the use of battery powered shipping operations in the global fleet has expanded to 1,045 vessels, with an additional 561 currently under construction. Of the current global fleet, approximately 90 vessels run on pure battery power, with an additional 50 vessels in the orderbook. There are also over 550 vessels in service using hybrid battery propulsion, with an additional 400 scheduled for construction.

With regards to OPS technologies, these represent a well-established solution within major ports around the world. In Europe, the port of Gothenburg was a pioneer in OPS technology, installing the first OPS connection at its ro-ro terminal in Älvsborg Harbor, in 2000. In the US, OPS has been used as an air quality solution in the Port of Los Angeles since 2004.

This increase in the use of ESS and OPS technologies brings into sharp focus the need for their standardized integration, supported by intuitive, simple and mandated safety guidance. The integration of ESS solutions onboard vessels requires owners and operators to consider the appropriate sizing and selection of battery cells, the inclusion of a reliable battery management system, and the ruggedization of the overall system to withstand the challenging marine environment.

Despite the significant green credentials of ESS, the technology also brings extra safety consideration due to the fire risks presented by certain types of li-ion battery technology, known as thermal runaway. This occurs when the battery’s temperature rapidly increases as a result of physical damage, manufacturing defects, or exposure to extreme temperatures. A li-ion battery fire will sustain itself, meaning that rather than lasting minutes or hours, a fire can continue for days.

Although the risk profile of li-ion battery technology is significant, there is currently a lack of comprehensive international regulation to address the safe design of li-ion battery installations on vessels, which must also include firefighting requirements tailored to combat a thermal runaway event. This lack of regulation has the potential to create a degree of uncertainty amongst owners and operators that might otherwise wish to engage with ESS technology.

To bridge this regulatory gap that inhibits the safe adoption of battery systems, at scale, industry organizations have developed the necessary guidelines and frameworks to support owners and operators. As a member of the Maritime Battery Forum, BV has collaborated with industry bodies such as the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to produce the publication ‘Guidance on the Safety of Battery Energy Storage Systems’ in 2023. This document supports the safe integration of ESS technology onboard, whilst also defining emergency response procedures to provide information to first responders, crew, and onshore based fire brigades with response plans.

Further regulations, such as EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime, combined with the approved IMO’s Net Zero Framework has set a clear direction of travel for the shipping industry in working to reduce GHG emissions.

This landscape provides a significant opportunity for the owners and operators to engage with ESS and OPS technologies, which represent a viable and effective means of supporting their decarbonization strategies.