Hybrid Solutions

Dredgers can derive significant benefits from Wärtsilä HY, thanks to the increased load taking capability and enhanced reliability, thus providing smooth and continuous operations, avoiding high stress condition for mechanical components. The EMS ensures instant load taking and dynamic power demand, and can be further tuned for performance optimizing to meet different dredging operation requirements, depending on the assignment. Compared to a conventional machinery arrangement, operating costs are lowered as the EMS control provides an increased energy efficiency with engines running at optimal and stable load for better fuel consumption. The lowered fuel consumption, less total engine cylinders and engine running hours results in a superior payback time of 1-3 years depending on the dredgers operations. Below figure illustrate the hybrid operation mode of a trailing suction hopper dredger as example. 

The key enablers for offshore vessels are reliable and flexible operations. Wärtsilä HY for OFFSHORE offers lower fuel consumption especially in dynamic positioning operations, while longer time between overhauls enable a higher rate of vessel utilization. ESS redundancy increases even more the safety levels of offshore operations. 

Hybrid solutions are not only for new build vessels. Existing ships can be retrofitted to benefit from the multiple advantages offered by Wärtsilä’s advanced hybrid technology. A hybrid retrofit reduces the vessel’s energy consumption, operating costs, and exhaust emissions. By using a hybrid/battery system to provide the back-up and redundancy power, the ship’s operational engine can be used closer to its optimal load. Additionally, it results in a more stable load on the engines. Ultimately, it also contributes to lower maintenance costs.

Wärtsilä completed its first hybrid conversion project already in 2014.  The ‘Viking Lady’, a platform supply vessel owned by Eidesvik Offshore, was fitted with a Wärtsilä Low Loss Hybrid system, after which a comprehensive measurement program confirmed fuel savings of 15%. Less fuel burned also means fewer exhaust emissions.

When in transit mode in heavy weather conditions, the ‘Viking Lady’ uses the battery to reduce frequent load variations on the engines. This allows one less genset to be used because a higher average load can be maintained. In critical operations, the battery is used as power redundancy while a charge / discharge strategy is also adopted. This allows one engine and a single battery to operate at the most efficient loading.