Is It Possible to Use Batteries Without Fire and Explosion Risks for Electric Propulsion Ships?

Vanadium Ion Battery. Photo by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Is it possible to use batteries without fire and explosion risks as ship power sources? Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) is embarking on the development of next-generation electric propulsion ships.

According to industry sources on the 30th, KSOE recently partnered with Standard Energy, the world’s first developer of vanadium-ion batteries, to develop next-generation electric propulsion ships.

Currently, ships equipped with energy storage systems (ESS) such as electric and hybrid propulsion vessels generally use lithium-ion batteries. While lithium-ion batteries are suitable for miniaturization, their highly volatile electrolytes expose them easily to fire and explosion risks.

Vanadium-ion batteries use water-based electrolytes, fundamentally eliminating fire and explosion hazards. They are also characterized by almost no heat generation from external shocks. Additionally, their output is nearly twice that of lithium-ion batteries, their lifespan is more than four times longer, and they maintain battery performance with minimal degradation even after repeated charging and discharging, offering high stability and excellent durability.

The key appears to be securing stability by applying vanadium-ion batteries, considered next-generation batteries, to ESS. Once this stability is ensured, the batteries are expected to be applied to actual small vessels and undergo certification procedures.

KSOE plans to collaborate with Standard Energy to develop a vanadium-ion battery-based MW-class ESS solution for ships by the first half of next year, pursue maritime demonstration and classification approval, and complete the basic design of next-generation electric propulsion ships and power transport vessels.

KSOE aims to secure market leadership based on highly stable shipboard ESS in the rapidly growing electric propulsion ship market. According to the global research firm IDTechEX, the global electric/hybrid propulsion ship market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 26% until 2029, reaching a market size of approximately 14 trillion KRW.

A KSOE official stated, “The shipboard ESS we are developing this time has no fire or explosion risks, making it possible to install not only on electric and hybrid propulsion ships but also on general cargo ships,” adding, “We will accelerate the development of next-generation ships such as power transport vessels, whose demand is expected to increase alongside the expansion of offshore wind power generation.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.