Towards a green future: shipping and aviation ready for electrification

Electricity grids are increasingly burdened by the increasing demand for energy and a growing supply of sustainable energy sources. At the same time, we want to limit our energy costs and generate even more sustainable energy. In the transition from fossil fuels to a CO2-neutral transport sector, electrification is inevitable. Professor Thiago Batista Soeiro of the University of Twente explains during the Power Electronics & Energy Storage event out the benefits and challenges of electrification for the maritime and aviation sectors.  

FHI spoke with Soeiro and his colleague, Professor Gert Rietveld, about the rise of electric sailing and flying, and what they think a green transport future looks like. Rietveld: “Power Electronics and energy storage are really important in this era, where the demand for electrically powered sailing and aircraft is increasing. booming. There are two main focuses in the development of 'future-proof' batteries. In the short term, we want to know even better what distance the user can travel before the battery is empty. In the longer term, we are interested in the 'health' of batteries. In other words: how long does it take before a battery needs to be replaced.”

Smart batteries
“Our R&D group tests batteries and develops new technologies to improve quality and durability and make them even ‘smarter’. The latter means that batteries themselves accurately monitor their capacity and status via the BMS system (battery management system). This system already exists, but we are working on a smarter generation of BMS. In addition, we are working on improving chargers. A subject that should not be underestimated, especially in the maritime sector and aviation, where enormous boats and devices are used that travel longer distances,” Rietveld continues. He mentions cruise ships as an example: “Many cruise ships keep their diesel engines running when they are in port and this causes a lot of air pollution. Electrification is the solution, but this requires chargers that have sufficient capacity,” says the professor.

Opportunities and challenges
Soeiro adds: “The electrification of large aircraft and vessels clearly highlights the opportunities and challenges of power electronics. The first part of my presentation focuses on current developments in technology, and in the second part I will focus on energy policy and the future of power electronics and energy storage. Power electronics is a broad topic. It plays a role not only in electrification, but also in the application of hydrogen and biofuels.”

The University of Twente collaborates with various partners to achieve its sustainability goals, including the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and Marin. The electrification of the maritime sector and aviation is high on the agenda at these research institutes. Rietveld: “Until a few years ago, no one thought that the use of batteries was a realistic possibility for aviation and shipping, but now we are fully engaged in it. Developments are moving very fast. The Dutch government is investing hundreds of millions of euros in the electrification of the transport sector as part of sustainability and the European green deal. We benefit from that.”

Pioneer
“It is exciting what is happening,” Soeiro confirms. “The Netherlands is a pioneer in the field of power electronics and energy storage, but the EU also plays a crucial role through new investment funds and other incentives. This is also a topic I will talk about during my presentation: where does the funding money go? And where are other opportunities for companies in the context of the green deal?”

Soeiro continues: “People often forget that there is also a complex logistical story behind the technology. Because how do you create sufficient charging points and how do you ensure that the grid is not overloaded? Is it possible to guarantee the safety of the batteries and the charging points?”

Ecosystem infrastructure
Not all sectors are equally ready for a sustainable future, Soeiro notes. “Aviation is originally a fairly conservative sector. Not much has changed in technical terms in recent decades. Electric flying really means a revolution for this sector. It is not just about technical aspects such as efficiency and the weight of the batteries. The entire ecosystem of the infrastructure needs to be adapted. The government and grid operators also need to contribute to the facilities, otherwise it will still fail.”

Not too much trouble
Almost everyone is in favor of electric transport, but it should not be too much trouble. If there are no charging points nearby, people will drop out, says Rietveld: “We already see that happening with hydrogen. Due to the lack of refueling facilities, hydrogen is not yet used as widely as we would actually like. We want to prevent this problem by sitting down with interested parties now to think together about the logistical setup.”

The question arises: what does Soeiro want to convey to his audience during his presentation? “I hope that after the lecture, visitors will have a good idea of the many aspects that play a role in the transition to electric transport and that a discussion will arise. Electrification is an indispensable link to an emission-free future, but as a society we must be ready for it.”  

Come to the lecture
Are you curious about the lecture by professor Soeiro from the University of Twente? Register now for free for the Power Electronics & Energy Storage event and the lecture  via the website.