About eWAVE
The research, technology and shipbuilding experts in project eWAVE will collaborate to mature High-Voltage (HV) battery technology for electric vessels for future uptake in the European shipbuilding sector, using efficient HV electric modular battery and distribution systems. Together, the eWAVE partners will research, develop and demonstrate HV battery solutions for sustainable maritime and inland vessels.
Project Methodology
At present, the widespread adoption of High-Voltage technology is hindered by several obstacles (e.g. current battery systems’ energy density, safety concerns, durable & sustainable materials), and, finally, economic viability / sustainability. Overcoming these obstacles will be achieved by using new high-energy-density high-nickel-content batteries for waterborne applications in a lightweight housing made of recyclable thermoplastics, wired and wireless BMS solutions and multi-level converters that provide the required scalability for vessel systems far beyond 1MWh. The battery system will foster an integral safety system concept considering thermal runaway & ventilation, supported by an integrated real-time condition monitoring system using novel SoC/SoH algorithms and SoS estimation.
eWAVE main Objectives
To achieve widespread adoption of High-Voltage technology, project eWAVE has four main objectives for battery systems for waterborne vessels, as shown in the figure below.
The Ambition
The eWAVE project has six main ambitions for battery system innovations for waterborne vessels, which are summarized in the table below.
| Innovation | TRL progress |
|---|---|
| New battery chemistry (NMC 955), wireless BMS, and light-weight housing design to enable high-energy density Battery Systems in shipping | Housing: TRL 2/3 → 5 Detachable cell-to-module design: TRL 2 → 5 Wireless BMS: TRL 3 → 5 |
| High-Voltage Battery Systems using scalable modular power electronic converters and insulation | Modular converters: TRL 4→ 6 Insulation for elevated DC voltages: TRL 2 →3 |
| Applicability of modular Battery Systems to other grid types (bipolar DC, AC) | Bipolar DC grids, AC grids: TRL 2 → 3 Fast charging: TRL 2 →3 |
| Methods to improve reliable operational lifetime and safety | SoC, SoH, SoS: TRL 4 → 5 |
| Investigation of concepts for improving sustainability and circularity of Battery Systems | BP: TRL 1 → 4/5 Second life/LCA: TRL 2 → 4 |
| Novel electric system topologies and control for different ship types with Digital Twins | Digital twins: TRL 3 → 4/5 |
Project main Demonstrators
The key results of eWAVE will be validated via laboratory and real-life vessel demonstrators.
The applicability of the system will be investigated across multiple vessel types using an efficient modular digital twin to maximize industry uptake. To further improve circularity and sustainability of maritime battery systems, eWAVE will explore bio-based battery housings, a design for dismantling and recycling, the creation of a battery passport concept for the maritime sector, and potential 2nd life applications for the batteries.
