The global fleet of electric commercial ships has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 2000 vessels. Data collected in the registration of the Marine Battery Forum (MBF) confirms that over 2000 commercial ships with installed batteries have been delivered or are on order.
Battery Capacity and Types of Ships
This fleet represents an installed marine battery capacity of 2.4 gigawatt-hours, enough to power 240,000 European homes for a day. According to the data, 68% of these ships operate in a hybrid mode, using batteries along with another energy source such as a diesel engine or hydrogen fuel cell. Additionally, 13% of this fleet operates in a hybrid mode with the ability to connect to electricity, and 18% are fully electric.
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Fleet Development and Diversity
In recent years, the average installed capacity has increased to about 1.5 megawatt-hours per ship. Passenger ships, with 570 vessels, make up the largest segment, while this registration indicates that every type of commercial ship is now available in an electric configuration. The fleet includes 313 offshore vessels, 265 cargo ships, 219 fishing vessels, and 149 workboats, showcasing the high diversity of this fleet.
Norway leads the battery-powered fleet in Europe, but global statistics are significantly higher. While the registration only tracks 267 ships in China, the actual number of the country's fleet is much larger.
Despite these technological achievements, the Marine Battery Forum believes that market advancements alone cannot fully contribute to the decarbonization of maritime transport. To bridge the gap in this area, the industry urgently needs a Net-Zero Framework (NZF) aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and generating billions of dollars for green investments.
Success in securing a strong NZF this winter is crucial for encouraging the rapid and widespread adoption of clean technologies in international maritime transport.
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