Daewoo Shipbuilding Builds Electrified Land Testing Facility... Accelerates Eco-Friendly Ship Technology Development

"Focus on Strengthening Capabilities in Eco-Friendly Fuel and Smart Ship Technologies"

Fuel cell onshore test facility owned by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Photo by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyun] Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) is accelerating the strengthening of its technological competitiveness through state-of-the-art research facilities.

DSME announced on the 29th that it has established an 'Electrification Land Based Test Site (LBTS)' within its own research complex, the Siheung R&D Campus in Gyeonggi Province, to develop advanced eco-friendly and smart ship technologies.

The Electrification LBTS refers to a site and research facility for testing ship systems powered by electricity on land. DSME has already built an 'Eco-friendly Fuel LBTS' utilizing hydrogen, lithium-ion batteries, and fuel cells as a core facility for future eco-friendly ship technology development, and has been conducting related research since last year. This time, it has additionally established the 'Electrification LBTS.'

The Electrification LBTS newly established by DSME is designed to verify performance by replicating the propulsion systems of actual ships and naval vessels. Composed of a load simulator, propulsion motor, shaft generator motor, energy storage system (ESS), and controller, this facility is expected to significantly contribute to improving system efficiency through demonstration tests and enhancing maintenance efficiency of key equipment.

Currently, as global regulations on ship emissions aimed at reducing greenhouse gases are being strengthened under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the importance of developing technologies that can respond to these regulations is growing day by day. In this context, the industry regards the so-called 'Electrification technology,' which shifts ship power sources from conventional oil and gas to electricity, as a key solution and is vigorously pursuing the securing of fundamental technologies.

Through the newly established Electrification LBTS, DSME aims to concretize the development of core electrification technologies, including electric propulsion systems, and elevate their level to the next stage. At the same time, the company plans to lay the foundation for developing next-generation eco-friendly fuel and smart ship technologies encompassing large vessels and naval ships.

The company will configure a hybrid propulsion system linked with shaft generators and batteries, and create next-generation electrification solutions integrating fuel cells by connecting with the existing Eco-friendly Fuel LBTS. Additionally, it plans to develop and demonstrate next-generation fuel cell systems that upgrade the practicality and operational efficiency of submarine fuel cells currently in operation.

DSME will also apply this land-based test facility to various smart ship technologies it has developed and implemented. Utilizing the LBTS’s capability to autonomously generate, store, and analyze vast amounts of data, the company intends to actively use it not only for system automation but also for operation within metaverse environments.

Choi Dong-gyu, Executive Vice President and Head of Central Research Institute at DSME, said, “The key keywords in the future ship technology market are ‘decarbonization’ and ‘digitalization,’ and electrification is an essential element. We will focus on practical and continuous enhancement of technological capabilities by actively utilizing cutting-edge research facilities, not just limiting ourselves to simple visions or slogans.”

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