While ships are now starting to employ electric propulsion systems designed to reduce environmental load and diversify energy sources, the maritime industry is still looking for new ways to boost fuel efficiency as well as cut emissions in order to combat climate change even further. It’s against this backdrop that superconducting technology has fallen under the spotlight as a sustainable solution to the world’s mounting energy and environmental problems.
A vessel employing an electric propulsion system with a superconducting motor will consume far less electricity than an ordinary diesel engine ship. What’s more, the motor’s compact size makes room for optimal hull designs that will reduce wave resistance. Another benefit is minimal energy loss since the motor drives the ship’s propellers directly without the use of speed reducers. Altogether these advantages of superconducting technology cut fuel consumption by about 20%.
In 2010, Kawasaki began development of a 3 MW commercial model for use with various types of domestic cargo vessels that will boast the world’s highest efficiency and smallest footprint. Kawasaki is moving full speed ahead to put superconducting motors to use on medium and large-sized merchant ships as well as industrial power generators and drive systems for highly efficient products designed to shrink our carbon footprint. Superconducting motors for liquefied natural gas carriers as well as tomorrow’s liquefied hydrogen carriers are making the most of cold energy to bring propulsion system efficiency to new heights.
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