In a significant stride towards greener maritime operations, researchers have developed a smart strategy to optimize energy storage systems (ESS) for ships powered by solar energy. This innovation, led by Zhe Tian from the College of Engineering at Ocean University of China, addresses the challenges posed by the variable nature of solar power at sea, offering a promising route for maritime decarbonization.
The study, published in the journal ‘Results in Engineering’ (translated from the original Chinese title), focuses on integrating photovoltaic (PV) power systems into ship power systems. The dynamic nature of ship navigation and changeable weather conditions can cause significant fluctuations in PV output, which can challenge system stability and control. To mitigate these fluctuations, the researchers propose a Model Predictive Direct Power Control (MP-DPC) strategy, enhanced by an ultra-short-term PV power rolling forecasting model.
This advanced forecasting module, based on neural networks, predicts PV power output one second ahead. This enables the MP-DPC to issue proactive charge and discharge commands, maintaining ramp rate constraints while minimizing ESS capacity. “The approach is evaluated on a 102.6 kW marine diesel/PV/ESS hybrid power system using one second resolution data across six weather scenarios,” explains Tian. The study tests fluctuation thresholds from 1 to 10% per minute of rated power, guiding the trade-off between smoothing performance and economics.
The results are promising. At a 3% per minute fluctuation threshold, the proposed MP-DPC framework achieves a system-level compromise that remains robust across different weighting perspectives. It requires an ESS capacity of 11.0042 kWh with an associated investment cost of approximately USD 5502.12. Moreover, comparative benchmarking against representative PV–ESS hybrid ships reported in the literature indicates that the proposed MP-DPC strategy achieves a markedly lower battery-to-PV ratio of 0.1072, demonstrating superior ESS capacity utilization.
For the maritime industry, this research opens up new opportunities for optimizing energy storage systems in hybrid power setups. It offers a practical solution to the challenges of integrating solar power into ship operations, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective maritime practices. As the industry continues to seek ways to reduce carbon emissions, innovations like this one could play a crucial role in shaping the future of green shipping.
In the words of the researchers, “The proposed MP-DPC framework achieves a system-level compromise that remains robust across different weighting perspectives.” This robustness and adaptability are key factors that could drive the adoption of this technology in the maritime sector, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient future for shipping.