Scalable, Plug & Play and Modular DC Power Systems for low-emission Large Vessels

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The use of fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) from waterborne must be minimised as fast as possible to reach a climate-neutral society by 2050. A vital prerequisite of the decarbonisation is the rapid growth of low-carbon power sources and energy storage. To achieve this, the efficient integration in the shipboard power system requires the development of high-power components and protections, and more specifically DC-DC power converters and DC switchgear. Albeit DC primary grids have been deployed for several vessels, the secondary grid has remained substantially identical to traditional solution based on AC. There is an opportunity to unlock the capabilities and functionalities of novel components for secondary grids that can improve the safety and the operations on the vessel. These components, integrated with the power converters and the protections of the primary grids, will reduce the risks of blackouts connected to faults and improve the reliability of the power supply. ALL-DC-SHIPS has devised a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges faced by shipowners, systems integrators and ship operators that includes: 1) development of new modular power converters with wide bandgap devices for primary DC grids 2) high-density power converters for secondary DC grids 3) innovative DC protection systems for primary and secondary DC grids 4) implementation of advanced algorithms for real-time ship energy management 5) rigorous testing and validation methodologies for the vessel demonstrator 6) providing recommendations for relevant use cases above 5,000 GT. ALL-DC-SHIPS will contribute to enable low-emission waterborne transport and technology transition for a resilient and sustainable future of the maritime sector.