Optimum configuration and operation of a hybrid fuel cell/battery marine propulsion power plant

The main motivation for this project is the need for new sustainable energy solutions. Marine propulsion is one of the largest fossil fuel consumers, and therefore one of the main contributors to air pollution. The energy demand of the marine sector will continue to grow, and it is therefore important to improve energy efficiency and control emissions. Hybrid energy systems for marine propulsion could be a key solution to reach the goal of zero emissions in the marine sector by 2050. Thus, Corvus Energy, with Toyota as a partner, are developing a large-scale hybrid hydrogen fuel cell/battery marine propulsion power plant. The power system is meant as a ferry application. Further, hydrogen can be produced in a clean manner, and can be used directly as a shipping fuel. Using hydrogen fueled fuel cells and batteries instead of traditional fossil fueled engines will ultimately lead to an increased percentage of renewable energy. In this project, we aim to find the optimum configuration and operation of a hybrid fuel cell/-battery marine propulsion power plant. By optimum configuration and operation, we mean the configuration that provides the best operation over its lifetime in an economic perspective. Further, the research of this project includes constructing a mathematical optimization model of the problem, investigating the annual fuel consumption and how the level of details of the representation of ferry load demand affect the solution of the model.