Germany’s ministry of transport and digital infrastructure has awarded a “seven-figure” sum to a pilot project that will introduce the world’s first mobile, containerised solution for supplying LNG power to container ships that call at the Port of Hamburg.
The funding of millions of Euros has been awarded to German innovators Becker Marine for their LNG PowerPac system under the framework of the German government’s mobility and fuel strategy, promoting LNG as an alternative fuel for marine applications.
LNG PowerPac combines a gas-powered generator with a 1.5mW output and a 20ft LNG ISO tank within a 2x40ft container footprint. It can deliver 8.2 tonnes of LNG, creating a supply of energy on board for up to 30 hours.
Also, if a ship should require a greater volume of LNG fuel, LNG PowerPac containers can be stacked on top of each other in a modular fashion, thus giving up to 60 hours’ power supply.
Once the container ship is moored, standard loading equipment at the port of call lifts the PowerPac on board. There, it provides energy to the on-board power supply during layover. Becker Marine say that it offers a simple and flexible fit with the vessel’s loading configuration. According to the German company, its output matches the voltage of the onboard electrical system and can be controlled by onboard electronics with no additional transformers and frequency converters required.
Henning Kuhlmann, managing director, Becker Marine Systems, said: “During layovers at port the power for containerships is currently being supplied by onboard auxiliary diesel engines using fuel oil. With LNG PowerPacs we are creating a modern, environmentally friendly, safe and economical option for supplying power based on LNG to container ships during layovers at port.“
“The use of LNG PowerPacs as an alternative onshore power solution is an important contribution to climate protection and the reduction of harmful emissions at port,” said Enak Ferlemann, parliamentary secretary, BMVI.
