Hybrid installation unveiled by Wärtsilä for bulk carriers

Wärtsilä has introduced the marine sector’s first hybrid power installation for bulk carriers. The system will be installed aboard the M/V Paolo Topic, a bulk carrier built at the Onomichi Dockyard in Japan.

The hybrid Wärtsilä HY power module will ensure the seamless integration and control of the installed technologies with the ship’s various existing power production systems. An Energy Management System (EMS) will have overall control of the engines, batteries, power distribution and, for the first time in the maritime industry, solar panels installed on a bulk carrier’s weather deck. The integrated solution is expected to deliver a drastic reduction in fuel consumption, greenhouse gases, and maintenance costs.