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Zenergy Power plc, the specialist manufacturer and developer of commercial applications for high-temperature superconductive (HTS) materials, has announced its participation in a €21.5 million maritime propulsion project funded by the European Commission.

As a result of its participation, the Group will receive funding to develop a range of HTS motors and generators designed for deployment in commercial ships using energy efficient all electrical drive systems.

It is the Commission’s belief that wider deployment of these electrical systems would significantly reduce the CO2 emissions generated by the transportation of people and goods by the shipping industry.

Named ‘Poseidon‘, the project will commence in January 2009 and will develop the concept of the electric ship by producing a land-based scaled demonstrator of an integrated electric ship based on cutting-edge technologies and, in particular, a selection of HTS materials and components.

Working in conjunction with its collaborative partner, Converteam SAS, Zenergy will supply the enabling HTS components and coils for the demonstrator’s motors and generators.

Converteam will construct and supply the HTS generators to the overall project coordinator, BMT Defence Services Limited.

It is expected that Zenergy’s expenditure to convert its proven HTS coil technology for use in maritime applications will amount to just €1.1 million, and that it will receive an €850,000 contribution towards this from the European Commission.

The project is expected to last for 4 years and includes over 30 participants including Nexans FR, Rolls-Royce Power Engineering and The European Maritime Equipment Council.

The concept of the all electric ship is widely recognised as offering a number of operational, cost and environmental benefits to ship operation. These include, among other aspects, flexibility of control and effectiveness of power transmission.

However, most importantly it is recognised that all electric propulsion systems enables higher energy efficiencies and cost savings which are not achievable using conventional mechanical transmission systems.

The European Commission has highlighted the need to enhance the electric ship concept to make it suitable for use by a wider range of vessels. Specifically, the Commission identifies the principal barrier to adoption of the electric ship concept as being problems posed by the size of the electrical equipment required.

It therefore proposes that if a size reduction in the electrical propulsion system can be achieved, then adopting the electric ship concept in a wider range of merchant ships will be achievable and hence drive a reduction in emissions and diminish the impact of shipping on global warming.

Working alongside Converteam, Zenergy will contribute the enabling HTS coils and components that are intended to demonstrate the significant role that HTS technology will play in reducing the size of these systems.

Currently, only 1% of the world‘s shipping fleet use electrical propulsion systems even though they deliver substantial increases in efficiency and a consequential reduction in emissions.

This saving is particularly significant when it is considered that the UN has reported that in 2008 the global shipping industry was responsible for 3.6% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. This equates to 1.12 billion tonnes of CO2.

The HTS industry as a whole is developing a new class of HTS materials known as 2G. The purpose of which is to greatly reduce the production costs of HTS.

Zenergy has been developing its own proprietary production techniques for 2G which have resulted in joint development agreements with ThyssenKrupp GmbH and Honeywell, as well as funding allocations from the German Environmental Fund, the U.S Department of Energy and the European Commission.

With respect to the development of these 2G processes, Zenergy says that the coils produced for the ship demonstrator will be constructed using only 2G wires. Accordingly, the company anticipates that it will become the first company in the world to manufacture HTS coils for motor and generator applications using only 2G wire materials.

Derek Grieve, Director of Technology Converteam UK Ltd., commented: “This advanced HTS approach is a breakthrough in realising the ‘Green Ship’ vision and will be a major landmark in the way ships are designed and built in the future.“

Jens Müller, CEO of Zenergy, said: “I am delighted that we are able to apply our technology to this project which sees our first move into the maritime market. In particular this demonstrates that by focussing on core HTS technology development we are able to enter into new global markets without having to make significant resource investments in research and development.“