Hybrid barge ‘cuts fuel costs, noise and pollution’
A new Norwegian company, Fjord Maritime, is working for operational optimisation of feed barge generators using rechargeable battery banks. The concept is called Fjord Hybrid, and aims to cut fuel consumption by up to 60 per cent and reduce emissions.
Fjord Maritime recently signed its first contract with the aquaculture industry, with E. Karstensen Aquaculture, which is planning an 18-month production of salmon in a new location far from land. It will have limited network access and capacity as shore power was not an option for energy supply.
"It was planned to operate the feed barge with diesel generators 24 hours a day throughout production there," Fjord Maritime's marketing manager Øyvind Bakke told fishfarmingexpert.com's sister site, kyst.no. "The generator would then have had a running time of 13,140 hours in the period."
Lower costs, less noise
He said that by installing operational optimisation, generator running time will be reduced by 75 per cent, from 24 hours to six hours per day.
"By reducing running time service and maintenance costs are also reduced," said Bakke. "There is less noise for those who work on the barge and any neighbours. The facility can also serve as a future charging station for electric work boats, and will be a power fuse that prevents light failure, with subsequent blinking for the fish."
The concept can be implemented on feed barges currently powered by diesel generators. A battery bank is installed along with an associated control system and software which automatically controls the charging and discharging of the battery bank. It allows the generators to always runs at optimal load, which is 70 to 90 per cent of maximum capacity.
Ideal generator load
In addition to the optimisation concept, Fjord Maritime also has measurement software that logs the current state of the feed barge, and offer suggestions on how to reduce generator running time and fuel consumption.
"Today diesel generators are operated at low loads, which leads to high emissions and low utilisation of the fuel," explained Bakke. "With operational optimisation the generator always runs on the ideal load, where emissions are lowest and the number of kilowatts per litre of diesel is highest."
He added that every barge is unique, and there is a difference in how good people are making the best use of their facilities.
See a short video of the concept below:
https://youtu.be/_0RrKYFRWb4
