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Wed 4 Jul 2012, 12:24 GMT

Japan completes world's first hybrid car carrier


Vessel combines solar with lithium-ion batteries and is designed to generate zero emissions while berthed.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced the completion of the hybrid car carrier Emerald Ace [pictured], designed to generate zero emissions while berthed, at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) shipyard in Kobe.

The Emerald Ace was built as the world's first newly-built hybrid car carrier, and is equipped with a hybrid electric power supply system that combines a 160kW solar generation system - jointly developed by MHI and MOL - with lithium-ion batteries that can store some 2.2MWh of electricity. Conventional power generation systems use diesel-powered generators to supply onboard electricity while berthed.

On the Emerald Ace, electricity is generated by the solar power generation system while the vessel is under way and stored in the lithium-ion batteries. The diesel-powered generator is completely shut down when the ship is berthed with the batteries providing all the electricity required, thus resulting in zero emissions at the pier.

MOL said the vessel's hybrid system represents a significant step forward in realizing ISHIN-I - MOL's concept for the next-generation car carrier that it announced in September 2009.

"MOL continues to take a proactive stance in technological development with the aim of reducing the environmental burden of its vessels and operations," the company said.

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