TESVOLT, a market and innovation leader for commercial and industrial energy storage solutions in Germany and Europe, has announced a new joint venture, TESVOLT OCEAN. The TESVOLT Maritime Solutions division merged with Ocean Batteries from Norway last week. The innovation and market leader TESVOLT is focused on commercial and industrial energy storage solutions in Germany and Europe. Its new joint venture has developed a battery system that will enable significantly more ships in the maritime and inland shipping sector to be equipped with clean e-drives for the first time.
Space in ships was often too tight for the compact battery storage systems available on the market, until now. The new “Kaptein Series” power storage system has the advantage that the battery modules can be installed individually anywhere in the ship – even on the floor. Due to its disruptive technology, the new power storage solution also features the highest energy density, the lightest weight, and the fastest charging capability on the market. This makes clean e-drives for shipping easier to implement as well as more cost-efficient.
Two maritime industry experts join forces
TESVOLT Maritime Solutions has supplied battery storage systems since 2018, primarily for workboats, deep-sea applications, and aquaculture, but also for pleasure craft and the yachting industry. TESVOLT Maritime Solutions has already equipped 160 ships with environmentally friendly battery propulsion systems, including the award-winning “E-Spatz,” a working vessel of the German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration. Ocean Batteries has been offering modular, safe, and powerful battery solutions since 2019. TESVOLT holds a 51% stake in the joint venture TESVOLT OCEAN. TESVOLT OCEAN presented its new “Kaptein” battery storage system at SMM, the world’s leading maritime industry trade fair, last week in Hamburg.
Longest range and fastest charging
“We’re entering the market with a best-in-class storage system, offering a technological solution for the biggest pain points of ship owners, system integrators, and shipyards,” explained Kent Thoresen, CTO of TESVOLT OCEAN. “The range of ships with electric propulsion, for instance, is still a problem for many owners. Ship spaces are often cramped, so not enough battery modules can be accommodated to achieve the desired range. At 246 Wh per liter, our new Kaptein system has the highest energy density on the market to date, meaning despite its high capacity it takes up very little space.”
Most batteries approved for use in shipping did not even have a continuous C-rate of 2 C. At 4 C, the “Kaptein” storage system offers the highest continuous C-rate available in the maritime industry to date. This means significantly shorter charging times for ship owners.
Light, safe, and individually installable
The new storage system also scores highly in terms of weight. At just 4.83 kg per kWh of storage capacity, it will be the lightest battery system for shipping on the market; batteries currently available on the market weigh at least 7 kg per kWh. A unique fire suppression system ensures maximum safety.
“We spent three years speaking intensively with customers in six focus groups about what they need. That’s why Kaptein fits their needs so well. It solves real problems in e-propulsion for ships,” added Kilian Hoffmann, CCO at TESVOLT OCEAN. “We’ve already had a huge number of inquiries about the new battery system.”
Support right from the start
“Every customer has different goals. That’s why we always tailor our battery system precisely to the individual customer. Kaptein is not an off-the-shelf product. But due to its special cell-to-module design, it’s exceptionally cost-efficient compared to the rest of the market,” said Øystein Kjæreng, CEO von TESVOLT OCEAN. “We’re a one-stop shop, offering planning, installation, and commissioning as well as monitoring, maintenance, and recycling. We want to make a significant contribution with this new product toward accelerating the equipping of shipping with clean e-drives — as simply and cost-effectively as possible.”
