Shipboard Microgrids: Maritime Islanded Power Systems Technologies

The development of electrical power systems in maritime applications like ships, ferries, vessels and seaports are calling for more advanced technologies integrating power electronics, energy storage devices, control and supervisory systems and onboard communications. The challenges of those electrical isolated systems are being solved in other terrestrial microgrid applications, so that many ideas and concepts can be shifted and adapted in order to reduce the fuel consumption in marine applications. Compared with terrestrial microgrid applications, the concept of AC and DC SMGs are presented in this paper. Several relevant technologies and standards are provided to ensure adequate power quality and fuel efficiency in ship systems. However, there are still technological challenges and de-risking studies related to the control, protection and management of the system to be performed yet.