Nova Scotia software maker BlueGrid and UK marine charging leader Aqua superPower are heading up a consortium showcasing the ability of electric marine vessels to both receive and supply energy to the grid

BlueGrid, a Halifax-based marine vehicle-to-grid (V2G) software provider, has formed a consortium with UK-based Aqua superPower, which is developing a global marine charging network, to spearhead a new transatlantic vessel-to-grid project.

This CanUK Vessel-to-Grid Project will involve deploying bi-directional chargers and two electric vessels in both Halifax and Plymouth, UK, to demonstrate how clean maritime technologies can provide energy flexibility to harbours and ports, as well as show the benefits to the energy grids.

BlueGrid will provide the software technology essential for grid integration and V2G capabilities. It has also partnered with Dalhousie University, the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) and Lennox Island First Nation to help execute the project in Canada.

On the UK side, Aqua SuperPower is leading the project. It is responsible for installing, operating, and monitoring the bi-directional chargers in Halifax and the UK. RS Electric Boats is building the zero-emission vessels, while RAD Propulsion is supplying the electric drives. The University of Plymouth is contributing its expertise in marine electrification and battery chemistry.

“We’re thrilled to lead the UK consortium and collaborate with our Canadian partners on this groundbreaking transatlantic project, showcasing the potential of bi-directional boat charging in different energy markets and environments,” says Adam Marshall, Chief Technology Officer at Aqua superPower in a press statement.

Project purpose

According to Andrew Boswell, CEO of BlueGrid, the CanUK project has two primary goals. First, it aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility of vessel-to-grid systems with these specific partners and vessels from both technical and energy perspectives.

Equally important, the project seeks to establish the commercial viability of vessel-to-grid systems.

“We need to prove that it works commercially and that there’s economic value, and ultimately environmental value for both on the vessel side as well as on the grid side,” adds Boswell in an interview with Electric Autonomy.

With marine electrification and vessel-to-grid systems still relatively new, the consortium also focuses on developing relevant protocols to ensure interoperability between vessels, chargers, grids, and software management systems.

The total project costs over $2.3 million. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing over $550,000. The Ocean Supercluster includes nearly 600 members across various sectors such as aquaculture, marine renewables, defence, transportation, and ocean technology.

The remaining funding will come from Innovate UK and other project partners.

Transatlantic partnership

The CanUK Vessel-to-Grid Project, launched in June, is currently focused on integrating various technologies from several partners to enable smart charging and V2G capabilities.

The project is bringing together multiple companies and organizations in Halifax and Plymouth to develop a robust vessel-to-grid ecosystem, emphasizing V2G standards integration, battery research and development, and alignment with energy markets.

For instance, Dalhousie University is conducting advanced R&D on battery technology, and Lennox Island First Nation is developing a training package to educate both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities on marine electrification and vessel-to-grid technology.

From Boswell’s perspective, the benefit of this transatlantic partnership is that it offers a good opportunity to prove and advance its V2G software technology in European markets.

“For our UK partners, this gives them added exposure and on-the-ground experience in North America. Conversely, it gives us more building-on-the-ground experience in the UK and Europe,” Boswell explained. “I think it gives us a nice reciprocal opportunity to expand each other’s footprint in the markets that matter.”

The dual locations also provide a valuable opportunity to test and see how the different marine infrastructures, vessel manufacturing, software, and energy work in different environments.

Aqua superPower highlighted this in a press release: “The contrasting environmental and operational conditions of the two locations will demonstrate the bi-directional energy flow to and from vessel batteries, showcasing their ability to perform key energy services and enhance energy security.”

Project deployment

Once the integration of the technologies is completed later in the summer, the project will move into the deployment phase.

“We’re going to be deploying two RS electric boats, equipped with RAD propulsion and Aqua Superchargers, in England. Then at the same time, we’re going to be deploying two similar boats in Halifax,” says Boswell. “Our software will be in the middle of all that.”

The RS electric boats are smaller workboats with a 63kWh battery capacity. The decision to use smaller boats was strategic.

“One large boat is interesting, but deploying two smaller boats helps us show how multiple vessels can be aggregated. We realized that the energy impact on the grid might not be huge, given that they aren’t big boats, but the concepts and the technologies are all scalable,” explains Boswell.

With the same acronym as vehicle-to-grid, the concept of vessel-to-grid is similar to the former, says Boswell.

Boswell explains that B2G allows electric vessel owners to earn money when their boats are idle. This not only enhances the business case for going electric but also supports the grid during periods of peak electricity demand without disrupting vessel operations.

Utilities also benefit by having access to stored energy from these boats without needing to invest in additional battery storage. This can potentially help to reduce the demand for such infrastructure, says Boswell.

BlueGrid’s previous V2G demonstration

Earlier this spring, this Halifax firm also completed a high-power vessel-to-grid demonstration in collaboration with Evoy, an electric motor systems provider and boat manufacturer ABCO.

“According to our partner, Evoy, it was a world’s first to be able to do…[V2G] has been demonstrated on land before, but not on marine,” says Boswell.

Looking ahead to what’s next, BlueGrid’s focus is on scaling up its V2G capabilities. The CanUK project currently involves four boats, but the vision is to expand to larger numbers quickly.

“How do we get to real numbers that can make a meaningful impact from an energy perspective, a financial perspective and an environmental perspective,” says Boswell. “That takes a team effort to make happen.”