• Latest class approval is key to driving mass adoption of batteries in maritime
• New range slashes cost while maintaining safety and performance
• Batteries cater to demands of industry offering choice of higher energy density and higher power
• Batteries can be used to electrify ferries, tugs, workboats, superyachts and fishing vessels as well as tankers and container ships

AYK Energy is set to ramp manufacturing of its latest range of marine batteries after receiving type approval from DNV.

The classification society DNV, has approved AYK Energy’s Pisces, Pisces +, OrionAN, OrionAN+ as well as aluminum versions of AYK’s legacy modules setting new standards in clean energy marine propulsion.

AYK Energy founder Chris Kruger said the approval is a game changer making marine battery technology more affordable driving adoption.

He said it immediately enables the company to install a 10.4MWh Pisces + battery system on the biggest retrofit ever undertaken. The project will see the battery installed on the hybrid- electric Ropax ferry the Aurora Botnia owned by Wasaline operating a daily service between Finland and Sweden.

“We are very proud to secure this approval from DNV,” said Mr Kruger. “It is testament to the enormous efforts of our engineering team to drive innovation without compromising safety, quality and performance. We have listened to industry and developed this range to deliver both higher energy density which is ideal for ferries, workboats and tugs. And at the same time we’re innovating systems that strike a balance between power and energy density which works better for hybrid applications.

“Our system design and engineering philosophy allows us to respond quickly to developments in cell technology and market demands. We can go from concept to type approved solution within months. As a result AYK is now offering the widest range of system choices in the maritime industry.”

Mr Kruger said the latest AYK battery range is slashing costs making the batteries more affordable and driving adoption.

“I have said before that’s why we started AYK,” he said. “We wanted to lead practical innovation in the industry. We all want to see fewer emissions and green shipping. But batteries will only be part of the decarbonization agenda if ship owners see the sums add up. There has to be a compelling business case. And that’s what this new AYK range is all about – mass adoption of batteries that can pay for themselves within a matter of years.”

The approval comes after AYK earlier this year installed 12 megawatt-hour (MWh) Orion+ batteries on Brittany Ferries Guillaume de Normandie hybrid electric ferry after installing the exact same battery system aboard its sister ship Saint-Malo at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard Weihai. There are among the largest marine battery installations in the world. The vessels are now in operation and can operate on zero emission battery power while entering and exiting port, improving air quality and cutting emissions in built up port areas.  The ferries are designed to run on LNG, battery-power or a combination of the two.

Mr Kruger said batteries are becoming more attractive as pressure piles onto vessel operators to be greener. More ports like Rotterdam, Antwerp, LA, Long Beach and Singapore are now requiring low emission or zero emissions operations. While the European Union is targeting operators via the Emissions trading scheme (ETS), which issues fines and penalties if ships do not comply with emissions reporting and can even deny port access for repeated breaches. The EU is further running the FuelEU maritime programme which imposes limits on the carbon intensity of a ships energy and encourages use of green fuels.

Chris Kruger is known as one of the founders of marine battery technology, having worked first in the electric car industry before moving to marine.  He developed the battery for the first hybrid propulsion ferry, Prinsesse Benedikte, and the first fully electric ferry, Ampere in 2012. A native South African now based in Andorra he established AYK Energy in 2018 building its first factory in 2023 China to be close to the center of the battery industry supply chain which he says is 10 years ahead of Europe in China.