A European Project Successfully Tests Automatic Charging of Ships at 1 MW Power

The Valenciaport Foundation has participated in the development and testing of a high-power automatic charging system for ships, within the European project HYPOBATT. The initiative has successfully tested the Marine Megawatt Charging System (M-MCS), a technology designed to recharge large batteries in a short time during ships' port calls.

One of the main challenges of maritime electrification is to enable ships to recharge their batteries without extending their stay in port or interfering with regular operations. To address this need, the project has developed a fast charging solution that allows for both automatic and manual connections.

The system has been tested under real conditions at the German port of Frisia using a pilot installation with a power of 1 MW. The trials have demonstrated the viability of this technology, whose modular design allows for power levels of up to 2.25 MW. This will facilitate its application in ships with higher energy needs.

Within the project, the Valenciaport Foundation has led the technical and economic feasibility studies, as well as analyzing the possibilities for implementing this technology in different ports. The goal has been to determine how to adapt the system to various port environments and business models to ensure its operation and profitability.

The results obtained will also help to advance international regulation of this type of installations. The experience gained during HYPOBATT will be used as a reference to develop the future IEC/IEEE 80005-4 standard, which will establish the standards for electrical connections in direct current between ships and shore facilities.

Photo: Valenciaport Foundation