Lloyd’s Register large battery installations new guidance: Key hazards to consider and LR’s approach to approval

Lloyd’s Register’s work in the laboratory and growing experience as a market leader on the water, is helping operators save fuel and increase efficiency, while reducing emissions

LONDON, 3-6-2015 — /EuropaWire/ —  LR’s experience with large battery installations is captured in a new guidance document aimed at facilitating a risk-based approach to battery use. The guidance describes the key hazards to consider when installing battery technology, and gives an overview of our non-prescriptive approach to approval. The guidance also covers battery chemistry and industry standards.

The guidance starts at the beginning of a battery system’s life cycle when the cells are being manufactured, and goes on to consider how an installation affects or is affected by a vessel’s power system, placement on board, ventilation, fire-fighting, electrical protection and maintenance. The guidance aims to help industry consider the hazards associated with large battery installations but is not specific to a particular cell chemistry.

Louise Dunsby, Lead Electrotechnical Specialist, Lloyd’s Register commented: “We aim to help industry establish a process for approving these installations which will remain relevant regardless of the way battery technology evolves.

“Advances in battery technology and energy management capability have rightly seen increasing interest in battery and hybrid power in the maritime industry. LR is involved in a wide range of projects which aim to make batteries efficient, stable and commercially viable. LR’s work in the laboratory, and increasingly on the water, is helping shipowners save fuel and increase efficiency, while reducing emissions. Battery installations also give significant reductions in noise and vibration compared to traditional fuel-based power systems. LR is excited to be playing a part in developing battery technology for a future generation of hybrid or potentially even single source vessels.”

LR has extensive experience of large battery installations, with the following vessels classed and in service:

• Svitzer Ecotug’s Perentie, Euro, Dugong and Bootie
• CalMac’s hybrid ferries, MV Hallaig and MV Lochinvar
• KOTUG’s hybrid tugs, RT Adriaan, RT Evolution and RT Emotion
• Scandlines’ hybrid ferries, MF Prinsesse Benedikte, MF Deutschland, MF Schleswig-Holstein and MF Prins Richard
• Four hybrid yachts (for various builders and owners)

Download a PDF copy of the guidance now at: www.lr.org/batteries

Watch a video of Louise Dunsby talking about how LR is supporting battery technology here:https://youtu.be/7uVN2QzH4us 

And read more about battery technology and other areas of innovations in LR’s new Marine Technology Report now at: www.lr.org/technologyreport

Nick Brown
Marine Communications Manager
T +44 (0)3304 140080 / +44 (0)7769 878501
E nick.brown@lr.org
@nickbrown_LR
uk.linkedin.com/in/nickbrownlr