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Description
Bars Elekter is an electrical installation and service supplier undertaking assignments for the international maritime, offshore and shipyard industries. They have extensive experience in engineering activities, electrical installations, building electrical and communication networks and servicing different machines and electrical devices. They are expected to gain a 30% market share in the field of shore-side connection solutions for older cargo ships in the Baltic Sea region.
This project is a continuation of the Second Small Grants Scheme project, which developed an electrical panel with an ICT-component for ships that allows them to connect to shore power and reduce CO2 emissions by 100% while in the port since the ship will not use a diesel generator to generate electricity for the ship''s needs. In the additional call project, the applicant shall develop a similar electrical panel (Onshore Power Supply - OPS), that will be located on the shore and allow the ship to be connected to the port''s electrical system. The OPS is compatible with the solutions of various other manufacturers of electrical panels for similar ships; its’ mobility which allows the solution to be moved between different berths and two- or three-times faster deployment in a specific port.
The electrical panel will take green and emission-free energy if the port has the ability to provide it. Additionally, the developed solution can be used for reverse energy production purposes (i.e. from the ship back to the electrical contact network), which can be used in emergency situations in case of power outages in the port or settlements.
The objective of the project is to encourage to reduce CO2 emissions in the transport field. The main target groups to benefit from the novel solution are ship operators and producers and ports.
Summary of project results
The activities of the project are aimed at developing innovative products and services with industrial and green ICT components, which will result in reduced carbon emissions in the transport sector and contribute to the “Fit for 55” objectives. For this, a universal shore-mounted electrical switchboard was developed that allows vessels to connect to the high-voltage shore-side connection system, irrespective of the type of switchboard installed on board.
The first phase of the project focused on the basic design. The first activities of this phase included defining the tasks and sharing content ideas. The first phase involved preparatory activities, during which general planning was carried out and a schedule and action plan were established. A list of necessary documents was also created. The structure and concept of the project were established, and the needs and expectations of the pilot client were specified during the consultations. Internal documents were drawn up, including minutes of meetings, which directed future activities. A preliminary project of the solution was prepared, as a result of which drawings, diagrams and calculations were completed. Analysis and control of finished materials was carried out, ensuring regularity of processes.
The focus of the design phase was on developing the more complex components of the system. In this step, sequence diagrams were defined that described the system''s workflows and the relationships between them. In parallel, profiling of more complex algorithms and their thorough analysis began to ensure the efficiency and reliability of the system. Maintenance of the operating system and source code was also carried out, which was important to ensure the stability and reliability of the system. At the end of the stage, comprehensive testing of computer structures and databases was carried out, which made it possible to identify and solve all the problems that arose. The first step was the preparation of operating instructions and manuals, which were supposed to give users a clear overview of the system''s working principles and usage possibilities. Then maintenance instructions and manuals were prepared, which were necessary for regular maintenance of the system and prevention of possible problems. The design validation phase ended with the testing and commissioning of the system and its components, where extensive tests were performed to confirm the reliability of the system and compliance with all requirements.
The solution was tested to ensure the actual performance of the system in a real environment. Onboard testing involved extensive testing of the various components and functions of the system on board the ship. First, overall system performance tests were performed to ensure that all components functioned as expected and met the requirements defined in the design. More specific tests were then carried out, focusing on checking different aspects of the system and their interaction. During testing, setup and commissioning, data was collected to identify possible errors and inaccuracies. During the testing, data was collected, which made it possible to identify possible errors and inaccuracies. As a result of the project, a solution was installed on the ship MS Isabelle and connected to its systems, which allows the ship to connect to shore-based electricity and use on-board systems without burning fossil fuels. All the activities planned in the project were implemented and the goals achieved.
The project was successful, as both ship-side and shore-side solutions were developed, which enable ships to use the shore current in the port. The solution is modular and compact, which simplifies installation on existing ships and reduces the need for extensive construction work in ports. This increased the system''s flexibility and compatibility with different ships and ports. The company is ready to continue to provide equipment and has won a large-scale tender from the Klaipeda State Port Authority (Lithuania) for a shore current supply system and is currently working on this project, which is expected to be completed in 2025.
Project contributes to reducing CO2 emissions in transport sector. The solution has the advantages of compatibility with various other similar solutions from ship manufacturers, mobility allowing the solution to be moved between different quays and two to three times faster deployment in a given port.