Alsym Energy, a developer of next-generation rechargeable batteries, announced that Alsym and Synergy Marine, in collaboration with Nissen Kaiun, Japan, will jointly develop applications specific to the marine shipping industry using Alsym’s high-performance, low-cost technology. Singapore-based Synergy Marine is a leading global ship management services provider, currently managing more than 500 vessels.
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“By manufacturing batteries from low-cost, readily available materials that are inherently non-flammable and non-toxic, we’re providing an economically-viable way to help them decarbonize while also lowering operating expenditures and insurance costs associated with lithium and cobalt-based battery technologies.”
Greenhouse gases from ships are predicted to make up 17% of total global emissions by 2050 if the industry does not accelerate efforts to electrify. Port operations generate substantial amounts of air pollution—up to half of total emissions in some metro areas—and some ports now require ships to use high efficiency fuels and observe speed limits within 20 miles of shore, while others have banned the use of auxiliary diesel generators while docked.
Alsym will provide Synergy and Nissen Kaiun with 1 gigawatt of batteries per year for three years starting in the company’s first year of high-volume production, conditional on the battery systems meeting key performance levels and regulatory requirements specific to cargo ships and tankers. Alsym’s batteries may be used to propel cargo ships and tankers as they enter and leave port, power berthed ships, and support peak shaving applications at sea. The company plans to start pilot manufacturing its non-flammable batteries for EVs, ships, and stationary storage later this year at its facility in Massachusetts, with high-volume production expected to follow in 2025.
“Zero-emission vessels are the future of maritime shipping, and we’re working with like-minded owners, including Nissen Kaiun, to decarbonize every part of the ecosystem as quickly as possible,” said Captain Rajesh Unni, Founder and CEO of Synergy Marine Group. “By lowering the cost of electrification and minimizing the risk of battery-related fire events, Alsym’s technology is well-placed to be a safer alternative that can help the shipping industry meet its goal of zero net emissions by 2050—especially in light of the European Commission’s recent proposal to classify lithium as toxic.”
By using low-cost, inherently non-flammable raw materials with robust global supply chains, Alsym’s aims to provide batteries at a fraction of the cost of lithium-based technologies, making electrification both safe and economically viable. These batteries can help reduce risks to crew and cargo, as well as lower insurance costs for fleet managers and shippers.