Volvo Penta & Northern Offshore Services (NOS) Christen 1st New Ship Using New Professional IPS To Advance Offshore Wind

Join daily news updates from CleanTechnica on e-mail. Or follow us on Google News!

The Volvo Penta IPS Skilled Platform presents superior marine propulsion, integrating twin energy sources for effectivity and suppleness. In a big stride in the direction of sustainability and effectivity in marine transportation, Volvo Penta, in collaboration with Northern Offshore Companies (N-O-S), has launched the world’s first business software of the IPS Skilled Platform. This groundbreaking expertise powers the I-Class Crew Switch Vessel (CTV), which can start operations in a UK wind farm on September 1, 2024. This vessel isn’t only a new ship; it’s a logo of the way forward for marine expertise, designed to evolve with the altering tides of vitality options.

So, What Is This Volvo Penta IPS Skilled Platform & Why Is It Higher?

Volvo Penta’s Inboard Efficiency System (IPS) represents a big innovation in marine propulsion expertise. Right here’s a short historical past and overview:

Improvement and Introduction:

• Early 2000s: The idea of IPS started to take form as Volvo Penta sought to revolutionize boat propulsion by integrating the engine, drive, and steering right into a single unit for higher efficiency and dealing with.

• 2005: Volvo Penta formally launched the IPS on the Cannes Boat Present. This method was designed to supply higher gasoline effectivity, elevated pace, and improved dealing with in comparison with conventional inboard and outboard techniques.

Key Options and Expertise:

• Built-in Design: The IPS combines the engine, transmission, and steering into one unit. This integration permits for a extra streamlined hull design, decreasing drag.

• Joystick Docking: One of many standout options of IPS is its joystick management, which simplifies docking by permitting the captain to maneuver the boat with ease, much like driving a automobile.

• Counter-Rotating Propellers: IPS makes use of twin, counter-rotating propellers which give higher grip on the water, resulting in improved acceleration and maneuverability.

• Digital Controls: The system makes use of superior digital controls for exact administration of engine efficiency, which contributes to gasoline effectivity and diminished emissions.

I acquired to truly drive two small ships for a short while to expertise how simple it’s to maneuver with the joystick docking options. It’s so a lot simpler than piloting a daily system the place it’s important to management a number of throttles and a rudder. These techniques robotically preserve your place and heading, reacting to any currents and wind. You simply inform it if you wish to transfer a half meter nearer to the dock by tilting the joystick as soon as. You can even change your heading simply and the 360-degree chicken’s eye view helps make sure you don’t unintentionally hit one thing you don’t intend to.

So, the IPS system has been round for a number of years, however now they’re including much more options and scaling it as much as serve a lot bigger vessels.

In January, Volvo announced new details of its Professional Version of IPSsummarized under:

The Volvo Penta IPS Skilled Platform represents a big development in marine propulsion expertise, tailor-made for skilled vessels and tremendous yachts. Right here’s a abstract of its key options:

• Twin Energy Drive System: This method permits vessels to make the most of as much as eight energy sources, combining conventional inner combustion engines (ICE) with electrical or hybrid options. This flexibility helps numerous gasoline sorts, together with renewable fuels like bio-diesel, aiming for sustainability.

• Clever Expertise:

  • Assisted Docking and Dynamic Positioning: Enhances ease of operation.

  • Glass Cockpit Helm Show: Offers superior management and monitoring for operators.

  • Distant Diagnostics: Improves upkeep and operational effectivity.

• Future-Proof Design: The structure helps upgrades from ICE to hybrid or absolutely electrical techniques with out main vessel redesigns, guaranteeing longevity and flexibility.

• ECO Mode: An progressive characteristic that robotically manages engine operation for optimum gasoline effectivity, doubtlessly saving as much as 10% on gasoline in sure situations. It might swap engines on or off primarily based on the facility demand, decreasing total gasoline consumption and engine put on.

• Sustainability: All engines are suitable with renewable fuels, selling speedy steps in the direction of environmental sustainability.

• Operational Effectivity: With good energy administration, the system ensures that solely obligatory engines are working, doubtlessly chopping engine hours by half in lots of operational situations, thus extending upkeep intervals.

This platform not solely enhances the efficiency and luxury {of professional} vessels, but in addition considerably boosts their effectivity and environmental footprint, making it a forward-thinking answer in marine expertise. Volvo Penta, with its world presence and intensive seller community, positions this platform as a frontrunner in marine propulsion for the long run.

Earlier than Volvo Penta Put It In A New Ship, They Examined It On An Outdated One For Over A Yr To Get The Bugs Out

Why Can’t We Simply Go All Electrical Now?

The market jogs my memory of the auto market 10 or 15 years in the past. When all we had have been the Nissan Leaf, why didn’t we simply convert everybody to an electrical automobile? As a result of they weren’t excellent again then (though they have been effective for restricted makes use of). Equally, battery electrical vessels can meet some use circumstances, so long as you don’t want an excessive amount of vary or pace. The place you want extra of both, serial & parallel hybrids can lengthen your vary significantly for the reason that energy density of gasoline is far increased than battery density at the moment. There are additionally ICE ships utilizing sustainable fuels that are very costly in the mean time, however there may be hope that the value of those come down sooner or later. I’m hopeful than Casey Handmer’s Terraform Industries will make carbon-free fuels from photo voltaic vitality aggressive with fossil fuels within the subsequent 10 years.

You’ll be able to change a diesel engine to an electrical motor at any time to scale back prices and make the method cleaner. This could allow you to transfer into ports that don’t permit diesel emissions. Discover the electrical motor on the left and the diesel engine on the appropriate within the picture under.

After you have extra charging accessible at ports and at wind farms, and battery prices are decrease, you’ll be able to set up extra batteries and go full electrical.

Conclusion

What Volvo Penta has supplied is a broad imaginative and prescient not only for sustaining wind farms, however for all sorts of marine vessels the place clients can decarbonize because the merchandise meet their wants. One massive benefit is you’ll be able to change diesel engines with electrical motors and add batteries at any time. You don’t should junk the vessel and even do a serious repower (so long as the vessel is designed just like the IMPRESSOR with a big field for batteries). We are able to’t count on the maritime trade to maneuver as rapidly as automobiles and vehicles have gone electrical, however Volvo Penta is offering the instruments for firms to affect as rapidly as they will make it work.

Disclosure: I’m a shareholder in Tesla (TSLA), BYD (BYDDY), Nio (NIO), XPeng (XPEV), Hertz (HTZ), NextEra Power (NEP), and several other ARK ETFs. However I supply no funding recommendation of any type right here. Volvo Penta lined my journey bills to point out me a number of new merchandise.