Valenciaport and the Hypobatt Consortium Successfully Test Ultra-Fast Charging System for Vessels

The European project Hypobatt (Hyper-powered Vessel Battery Charging System) has concluded after successfully developing and testing the Marine Megawatt Charging System (M-MCS), an ultra-fast charging solution for vessels. The initiative, co-funded by the Horizon Europe programme, seeks to address one of the major challenges of maritime electrification: how to recharge large batteries within the short time a vessel spends at berth without disrupting operations.

The system was tested under real conditions through a 1 MW pilot at the Port of Frisia, in Germany, which made it possible to demonstrate for the first time the feasibility of fast charging using both automatic and manual connection systems. Thanks to its modular and scalable design, the technology will be able to reach power outputs of up to 2.25 MW, opening the door to the electrification of vessels with higher energy demands.

Within the consortium, Fundación Valenciaport led the replicability and techno-economic feasibility studies, defining how to efficiently and profitably adapt and implement this technology across different port environments and business models. Following the project's completion, the entity will transfer this knowledge to the port community and the business sector to facilitate the adoption of these solutions toward emission-free shipping.

The practical experience gained during Hypobatt is having a direct impact on the sector's regulatory framework, as it serves as the basis for drafting the future international standard IEC/IEEE 80005-4, which will establish global standards for direct current shore-to-ship electrical connections. Organizations participating in the project included Ikerlan S. Coop as coordinator, Fundación Valenciaport, Heliox BV, Rina Services SPA, Stemmann-Technik GmbH, and Damen Research Development & Innovation BV, among others.