Hanwha Aerospace and its subsidiary, Hanwha Ocean, have joined forces in a strategic collaboration to advance Energy Storage System (ESS) technology and combat carbon emissions in the growing eco-friendly ship market.
The collaboration has already resulted in the successful development of Megawatt-hour (MWh) class ESS technology, suitable for large vessels such as Liquid Natural Gas Carriers (LNGC) and container ships. This advanced ESS technology utilizes lithium-ion batteries and boasts a compact 'container type packaging' design that streamlines the control system, reducing overall size. Furthermore, the ESS is equipped with an 'automatic fire extinguishing' feature for enhanced safety.
Hanwha Ocean has conducted rigorous compatibility and safety tests on its Land Based Test System (LBTS), a state-of-the-art R&D facility located at the Shiheung R&D Campus, using the ESS developed by Hanwha Aerospace.
The combination of a hybrid power system, merging a conventional internal combustion engine with the ESS, leads to significant improvements in fuel efficiency and a reduction in pollutant emissions.
"The packaging and safety technology of ESS, essential for global decarbonization, is critical not only in the defense sector but also in the aviation and maritime industries,” said Seunghak Moon, Head of E-Propulsion Business Group at Hanwha Aerospace. “We’re taking a holistic approach to maximize synergy through collaboration among affiliates, consistently placing the environment at the focus of all our activities.”
“The successful completion of this project is a result of big synergy effect created by industry leading expertise and experience from both companies,” said Head of Hanwha Ocean R&D Institute, Joong-Kyoo Kang. “With this success, we will continue to deliver advanced eco-friendly and digital solutions to ship-owners with our cutting-edge technologies.”
Taking into account the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, Hanwha Aerospace is poised to actively penetrate the market for low-carbon emission ships.
According to MarketsandMarkets Research, the global market for ship ESS is projected to grow at an annual rate of 15.5%, reaching around $7.6 billion by 2030, up from approximately $2.1 billion in 2021.
Capitalizing on its extensive experience in supplying ESS to public and small-to-medium-sized private vessels, Hanwha Aerospace is now positioning itself to enter the market for innovative mobility power systems, with a focus on ships designed to minimize carbon emissions.
