Singapore’s 1st fully electric cargo vessel, the Hydromover, hits the water
Singapore's 1st fully electric cargo vessel, the Hydromover, hits the water - Offshore Energy
Singapore’s 1st fully electric cargo vessel, the Hydromover, hits the water
The Goal Zero Consortium, comprising companies such as SeaTech Solutions International (S), Shift Clean Energy, and Yinson GreenTech, has launched Singapore’s first fully electric cargo vessel, the Hydromover.
The milestone launch was revealed by the CEO of the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore, Eng Dih Teo, saying that more electric vessels are expected to ply Singapore’s waters in the coming months.
As announced by Teo, a companion electric vessel, the Hydroglider, is currently undergoing sea trials.
Eng Dih Teo, MPA Singapore CEO/Linkedin
The Hydromover was one of the three winning proposals announced by the MPA and the Singapore Maritime Institute, to develop and commercialize an all-electric cargo vessel with interoperable swappable battery infrastructure solutions.
Out of 16 proposals received, the Goal Zero Consortium, along with two others, was shortlisted to enhance its technical and commercial viability.
The lightweight, 18.5m vessel is equipped with swappable batteries, allowing it to transport up to 25 tonnes of cargo.
The vessel, being all-electric, has zero emissions and targets to achieve up to 50% operational cost savings due to improved energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs. Its battery, when depleted, can be swapped within minutes to minimize operational downtime.
The Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS), and the Singapore Institute of Technology assisted in the engineering and construction plans of Hydromover, which will be classed by RINA.
This electric cargo vessel can operate at 8-10 knots, covering up to 40 nautical miles at half load. It boasts several efficiency features, including a catamaran aluminum hull for reduced drag, lightweight components, solar panels, azimuth thrusters for swift directional changes, and swappable high-energy-density batteries.
The introduction of swappable batteries allows the Hydromover to minimize operational downtime, making it more productive than conventional harbourcraft. With reduced downtime, a smaller fleet can accomplish the same amount of work, leading to enhanced productivity and reduced operating costs over the vessel’s lifetime.
The MPA, in alignment with its decarbonization efforts, is mandating all harbor craft to transition to fully electric, capable of using biofuels or being compatible with net-zero fuels like hydrogen by 2030. This move aims to not only cut emissions significantly but also brings various benefits such as lower maintenance, increased energy efficiency, and reduced noise pollution.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: hydropower
Hydropower — electricity generated by turbines capturing energy from moving water — was for many years the primary contributor of renewable energy to the U.S. electricity grid. Its growth was rapid into the 1970s, and since then has offered a stable supply of power, while a declining share of all generation. For many years, hydropower was seen as clean energy and an unalloyed good, but a greater understanding of the impact of dams on ecosystems and wildlife has led to the removal of some dams. As of 2019, hydropower trails wind as a renewable source of power generation.