Today’s shipping fleet is responsible for significant emissions and relies on heavy power systems that are not designed for renewable energy. With €7.8 million in EU funding, Maritime CleanTech and partners will create a power system fit for the future fleet.
With Maritime CleanTech at the helm, leading Norwegian and European partners will develop a new power distribution system tailored to the needs of tomorrow’s zero-emission ships. This system will simplify the use of green energy sources on board while improving the efficiency of existing technology. Together, these innovations will lead to substantial emission reductions.
– The Norwegian maritime industry is a global leader in green solutions, and with this EU collaboration, we are taking another technological leap. This will provide Norwegian companies with new export opportunities while creating jobs and reducing emissions, says Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland-Eriksen.
Stricter regulations and increased costs for ship emissions are being introduced internationally in the coming years. The STEESMAT project is a key part of the EU’s commitment to green shipping, with the goal of commercializing the new technology by 2029. This will create significant market opportunities for Norwegian companies, both for new shipbuilding and the retrofitting of existing vessels.
The STEESMAT partners gathered onboard North Star at the project kick off. Photo: Marius Knutsen
Aiming to Cut Emissions by 40%
The technology being developed in the new STEESMAT project is an innovative medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) power system designed to replace today’s conventional alternating current systems. This solution allows engines to operate more efficiently at variable speeds while making it easier to integrate various green energy systems on large ships, such as batteries, solar panels, fuel cells, and wind power.
The STEESMAT system will also make ships lighter and more energy-efficient. With emission reductions of up to 40%, this marks a major technological breakthrough, showcasing how Norwegian and European industries are leading the way toward a more sustainable maritime future.
– The EU’s 90 million NOK support enables us to develop solutions that not only reduce emissions but also simplify the integration of various sustainable energy sources. I am proud of our partners, who are working together to create a more efficient and climate-friendly shipping industry, says Ada M. Jakobsen, CEO of Maritime CleanTech.
Maritime Clean Tech CEO, Ada Jakobsen and Sustainable Energy CEO Willie Wågen. Photo: Marius Knutsen
Former Coast Guard Ship to Serve as a Test Arena
Maritime CleanTech is collaborating with 12 European partners, including Norwegian companies such as Sustainable Energy, Wärtsilä, The Switch, and NTNU.
The former Coast Guard ship KV Senja, now renamed RV North Star, will serve as a floating laboratory for the project. The vessel will be equipped with the new direct current grid, which will be tested against the ship’s systems under real maritime conditions. The ship is made available as a test arena through the Sustainable Energy Catapult Center.
– We look forward to using our testing capacity to develop new solutions that will help reduce emissions from global shipping. The technology will first be developed at our onshore test center before being demonstrated at sea aboard the RV North Star, says Willie Wågen, CEO of the Sustainable Energy Catapult Center.
Rv North Star will test the new systems in real-life conditions at sea. Photo: Marius Knutsen