The electrification of maritime and inland waterways vessels is progressing slowly. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) face limitations, particularly in weight, reliability, and safety. In small to medium-sized vessels, high-capacity BESS can take up valuable cargo space, while maintaining reliability and safety remains essential for reducing costs and encouraging adoption. These issues hinder the large-scale shift towards decarbonised vessels. In this context, the EU-funded HARPOONERS aims to address these challenges by developing a unique modular AC battery system that integrates key components into a compact configuration, eliminating the need for separate transformers and cooling systems. This approach will enable more reliable BESS solutions for all-electric and hybrid vessels, supporting the transition to a cleaner maritime industry.

The technology developed at HARPOONERS will be applied to maritime and inland waterway vessels by developing an innovative, modular and flexible technology that will interconnect battery storage systems with the high-voltage grids on board ships, eliminating the need for transformers and cooling systems.

• These battery modules will be integrated with the power electronics which will eliminate transformers through a direct connection to the ship's mains, achieving weight reduction.
• Using this innovative mechanism, a safer energy storage system will be created that will facilitate the electrification of small and medium-sized vessels, decarbonising the industry and reducing the environmental impact and CO2 emissions of vessels, as well as lowering manufacturing and maintenance costs.

The project involves the participation of 13 European entities: the Basque Maritime Forum; TECNALIA; the Valenciaport Foundation; Power Electronics (Valencia); AIT Austrian Institute of Technology (Austria); Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium); Inlecom Group (Belgium); Opleidingscentrum voor Hout en Bouw (Belgium); Lalemant (Belgium); Grimaldi Euromed SpA (Italy); Corvus Energy Norway (Norway); Lloyd's Register EMEA (United Kingdom) and Elkon Elektrik (Turkey).