Floating Battery | Floating shore power and battery charging for inland vessels

Bringing flexible, sustainable energy to inland waterways

Providing shore power and charging infrastructure for inland vessels remains limited and difficult to scale. The Floating Battery project explores how mobile, floating energy systems can deliver shore power to moored vessels and provide charging solutions for electric inland ships. By developing and evaluating floating battery concepts, the project assesses their technical and economic feasibility and supports the transition to cleaner inland waterway transport.
 

Target group

The project is relevant for:

• Energy and technology companies
• Inland shipping companies
• Port authorities and terminal operators
• Logistics companies
• Policy makers and public stakeholders 

Context

Inland vessels still rely on onboard generators when moored, causing air pollution, noise and odourodor. Although fixed shore power installations exist, their availability along inland waterways in Flanders remains limited. Installing infrastructure at every berth is often not feasible from a practical or economic perspective.

At the same time, electric inland vessels are expected to emerge in the near future. Their operation depends on the availability of charging infrastructure, which is currently lacking. This gap slows down the transition towards more sustainable inland transport.

A mobile solution, such as a floating battery, can address both challenges. It enables flexible delivery of shore power and acts as a charging station where and when needed. The key question is whether such a system can be technically viable and economically sustainable. 
 

Objectives & results

The project aims to assess the technical and economic feasibility of floating battery systems for inland shipping applications.

Main objectives: 

• Analyse operational needs at vessel and infrastructure level 
• Assess market demand and operational scenarios 
• Evaluate energy storage technologies and identify suitable solutions 
• Develop a technical concept for a floating battery system and charging station 
• Explore additional revenue models, such as grid support services 
• Develop a life cycle cost model to assess different deployment scenarios

Key results: 

• A validated concept for mobile shore power and charging 
• Insights into technical feasibility and system design 
• Evaluation of suitable battery technologies for maritime use 
• A life cycle cost tool to support investment decisions 
• Identification of viable business models for deployment
   

Approach

The project follows a structured approach combining analysis, design and evaluation:

• Needs analysis 
  Assessment of vessel requirements, market demand and operational context through data analysis, stakeholder consultation and literature review
• Technology evaluation 
  Assessment of energy storage principles and market solutions for maritime battery systems
• Concept development 
  Design of the floating battery system and associated charging infrastructure
• Business model exploration 
  Evaluation of additional value streams such as grid support services
• Techno-economic assessment 
  Development of a life cycle cost model to compare scenarios and support decision-making 
   

Funding

• Funding agency: MOW