Corvus Batteries for Gorgon ‘Hybrid’ tugs

The Gorgon LNG Project terminal on Barrow Island, 130 km off the coast of Western Australia, is currently under construction and once complete it will become the largest natural resource project in Australia’s history. Due to its location in an environmentally sensitive area, those responsible for the project are endeavouring to create a world class example of environmental management where conservation and development can successfully co-exist.

Chevron Australia Pty Ltd and Svitzer Australia Pty Ltd signed a contract for the provision of marine services at the Gorgon LNG terminal. Four Svitzer designed, diesel-electric hybrid escort tugs, each with an 80 tonne bollard pull, are being built specifically for the contract. Also included is one pilot boat required for the marine services at the terminal. The contract will begin in 2014 and run for 20 years.

The Gorgon Project is a joint venture between several global oil companies which is anticipated to garner 35.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, generate $300 billion in Australian export earnings, and have an estimated lifespan of about 40 years.

At the heart of the new 542 kWh hybrid tugs will be battery packs equivalent to 2 MW, designed and manufactured by Corvus Energy. At one quarter of the weight of conventional batteries, Corvus’ AT6500 batteries are the world’s most power and energy dense batteries available. The hybrid system being installed is predicted to reduce C02 emissions and annual fuel costs sufficient to provide a ‘return-on-investment’ in a few short years.

The tugs will include several other environmental improvements, including solar panels for heating water as well as a plant for recycling the water being used onboard.

Ketil Aagesen, sales manager for Siemens AS Industry Solutions Division, Marine Solutions, commented, “It was an easy decision to select Corvus as our battery supplier. The company’s technology is impressive and we did not hesitate to incorporate Corvus’ high performance, cost efficient batteries into the drive trains we’re building for these tugs.”

Corvus Energy, based in Richmond, BC, Canada, provides industrial sized power in a compact, modular lithium-ion battery system to commercial marine, transportation, ports machinery, remote community, off grid and grid energy markets.

“Corvus is thrilled to be part of this major project and have our industrial lithium-polymer battery technology featured in the hybrid tugs, said Corvus Energy’s Brent Perry “We are confident that our 48 volt batteries will provide many years of economical operation as well as significantly reducing the environmental impact of such a large and important project.”