German-owned AKASOL and Norwegian-owned ZEM have announced a partnership to develop lithium ion batteries for maritime use.

AKAZEM 15 OEM, is a self-contained modular battery unit designed for aquaculture workboats, fishing boats and small passenger ferries.

Sven Schulz, CEO of AKASOL, said: “The unique modularity opened a wide range of applications, from use for the all-electric or plug-in hybrid operation by winches, cranes and pumps.”

The liquid cooled modular system can be combined in a “lego-like” fashion to meet smaller vessels’ space and power requirements.

ZEM will adapt the AKASystem OEM - to be produced at a new factory in large quantities for international bus manufacturers – to maritime requirements.

The AKAZEM modular systems will be used in the world's first battery-driven freefall lifeboats, a joint project with Norsafe.

Moen Marine will also use the AKAZEM solutions in its new series of aquaculture and fishing vessels. The Norwegian specialist will be responsible for the final assembly, electrical integration and customer acceptance test in its production facilities in Karmøy on the west coast of Norway.

Jan-Olaf Willums, chairman and co-founder of ZEM, said: "The quality and good engineering expertise, which we found in the AKASystem OEM is in our opinion the best basis for a first-class maritime energy storage system for smaller vessels. Therefore, we decided to work with AKASOL and develop a fully self-contained modular system that can pass all maritime certification tests and, thanks to its IP67 rating, can be placed in all kinds of vessels.”

By Rebecca Jeffrey