Electric Ship Market Size, Share, Trends & Growth Analysis

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Electric Ship Market Size & Growth

[345 Pages Report] The Global Electric Ship Market Size is expected to reach USD 14.2 Billion by 2030 from USD 3.3 Billion in 2022 growing at a CAGR of 20.0% from 2022 to 2030. The key factor driving the growth of the worldwide Electric Ship Industry is the increase in global commercial trade and the adoption in hybrid and fully-electric vessels.

Electric Ship Market Forecast to 2030

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Electric Ship Market Trends

Driver: Need for reduction in carbon emmissions

Carbon emissions are one of the main drivers of the electric ships market. The shipping industry is responsible for around 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and this figure is expected to increase as global trade and shipping volumes continue to grow. Carbon emissions contribute to climate change, which can have significant and far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, economies, and societies. To address this issue, governments around the world have implemented regulations and targets aimed at reducing carbon emissions from the shipping industry. Shipping companies will need to invest in low-carbon technologies, such as electric ships. These ships emit little to no greenhouse gases during operation, depending on the source of electricity used to charge the batteries. This makes them an attractive option for companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint and comply with environmental regulations.

Electric ships also have the potential to mitigate climate change. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, they can also help shipping companies to adapt to the changing regulatory landscape and stay ahead of competitors in an increasingly environmentally conscious market. By investing in electric ships, companies can position themselves as leaders in sustainable shipping and gain a competitive advantage in the market.

According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the shipping industry is responsible for around 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions expected to increase by up to 250% by 2050 if no action is taken.

To address this issue, the IMO has set a target of reducing shipping emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. This target is in line with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to well below 2º Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In addition, several countries have implemented regulations aimed at reducing emissions from the shipping industry. For example, the European Union's Emissions Trading System (ETS) includes shipping emissions, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set emission standards for new marine diesel engines. As for the potential impact of electric ships on reducing emissions, studies have shown that electric ships can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional ships. For example, a study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) found that battery-electric ferries emit up to 94% less greenhouse gases per kilometer than diesel-powered ferries. Another study by the Swedish Transport Administration found that the use of electric ships could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the country's domestic shipping sector by up to 70%. These numbers demonstrate the significant impact that carbon emissions have on the electric ships market, as governments and companies alike seek to reduce their environmental impact and comply with regulations.

Overall, carbon emissions are a significant driver of the electric ships market, and the industry is likely to continue to grow as companies and governments look for ways to reduce their environmental impact and comply with regulations.

Restraint Long downtime in retrofitting ships

The shipping industry plays an essential role in global economic growth, as it is a crucial part of the international import and export markets. With increasing climatic changes, there is a need for a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases from ships. However, the installation of alternate propulsion or scrubbers is a time-consuming and expensive process. Ship operations need to be halted when changing the propulsion system and installing scrubbers, which could result in revenue loss.

Shipowners with big revenue pockets can incur the retrofit cost; however, for small operators, it would be challenging to retrofit ships due to budget constraints. The installation costs depend on the system that is installed to retrofit the ship’s propulsion. Shipowners incur not only retrofitting costs but also the cost related to additional yard time due to efforts of removing and transforming the engine room. Further, there is a downtime of around 1 to 2 months due to lack of dock availability, which eventually can lead to revenue loss, thereby restraining the electric ships market.

Opportunity: Hybrid propulsion technology for large ships

Storage of energy is essential to optimize its use in hybrid ships; it is also critical for the use of electric propulsion. Propulsion systems powered by batteries are designed for and commonly used in smaller ships, while engine manufacturers are focusing on hybrid battery solutions for larger vessels. Parameters such as safety, availability of materials used, and durability should be checked and ensured that battery-driven vessels are competitive as compared to conventional ones.

With rapid advancements in technology, there are energy storage technologies such as flywheels, supercapacitors, and thermal energy storage devices that could find applications in the shipping industry in the coming years. Energy storage companies are continuously experimenting to develop batteries that can be cheaper, denser, lighter, and more powerful. Some of the potential battery technologies that can be used as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries are silicon-based batteries, room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT-NaS) batteries, proton batteries, graphite dual-ion batteries, aluminum-ion batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, potassium-ion batteries, salt-water batteries, paper-polymer batteries, and magnesium batteries.

For example, Saft (now acquired by Total) (France)is working on three new battery technologies—lithium-ion (li-ion), lithium-sulfur, and solid-state batteries. In August 2019, Asahi Tanker Co.(Japan), Exeno Yamamizu Corp. (Japan), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd (Japan), and Mitsubishi Corp (Japan) teamed up to build the world’s first zero-emission tanker which was completed by 2022  which  was   powered by large-capacity batteries propulsion of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and will be operated in Tokyo Bay. e5 Lab Inc. was  another venture between Asahi Tanker Co., Exeno Yamamizu Corp., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., and Mitsubishi Corp. Since lithium batteries cannot produce enough power to drive big ships such as cargo vessels and container ships, battery manufacturers have an opportunity to work on new technologies to target large ships.

Challenge: High initial capital expenditure

Retrofitting ships with electric or hybrid propulsion systems is both, time-consuming and expensive. The capital expenditure required to retrofit the ship alone is high, and depending on the type of ship and configuration taken, it can cost millions of dollars. Revenue loss due to the non-operation of their existing ships is an added factor to consider during retrofitting.

Leclanché (switzerland ) estimates that for passenger ferries, an average payback period would be between 5 to 6 years on the investment made. Thus, ship owners need to look at the current expected life of the ship, the ability for the ship to earn enough to recover the capital expenditure within the least amount of time, and the scrap value at the end of the life to help reduce capital expenditure. Thus, it becomes a better option for ship owners to scrap their current ship and purchase a new ship, which will last for 10-15 years. Shipowners are suffering a huge reduction in profits, and hence, they do not want to invest in assets that cannot be used in the future due to changing regulations.

Electric Ship Market Ecosystem

Prominent companies in this market include well-established, financially stable manufacturers of Electric Ship. These companies have been operating in the market for several years and possess a diversified product portfolio, state-of-the-art technologies, and strong global sales and marketing networks. The prominent companies are ABB (Switzerland), Leclanché S.A. (Switzerland), Siemens AG (Germany), Wartsila (Finland) and Kongsberg Gruppen (Norway). Commercial Passenger vessel operators, cargo operators, oil tanker operators, private cruise liners, global naval forces, and chartered operators are some of the leading consumers of Electric Ship solutions.

Electric Ship Market Segmentation

Commercial Segment to dominate market share during the forecast period

Based on Ship Type, the Electric Ship market has been segmented into commercial and defense. Commercial vessels, especially commercial passenger vessels, are witnessing increasing adoption of electric ship solutions as they are mostly inland vessels that travel less distance compared to cargo ships. Under passenger vessels, passenger ferries are witnessing largest growth.

Hybrid electric segment expected to the electric ship market during the forecast period

Based on type, the hybrid electric segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Due to the challenge of having lower range and lower battery capacity more developments are being made in Hybrid Electric propulsion type. Hybrid propulsion not only allows reduced emissions but also helps in increased range and handling higher load requirements.

500 – 5000 DWT segment to witness higher growth during the forecast period

Based on tonnage, the electric ship market has been classified into <500 DWT, 500-5000 DWT, 5001-15000 DWT, and >15000 DWT. Small container vessels, roll-on, and roll-off vessels for wheeled cargo are considered under the 500–5,000 DWT category. Container vessels are one of the most widley used modes of transportation and one of the most pollution-causing vessels. Hence, they were the first to get a fully electric set up to reduce marine pollution.

OEM to acquire the largest market share during the forecast period

Based on End Use, the Electric Shio market has been classified into Newbuild & Linefit, and Retrofit. Currently, electric ships use a diesel-electric hybrid system, which is mostly used by offshore and cruise vessels. The demand for electric ships has been increasing every year due to the increase in offshore exploration and the need for energy-efficient ships. Norway is setting an example across the world by heavily investing in ship electrification.

Electric Ship Market Regional Analysis

Europe is projected to witness the highest market share during the forecast period

Europe leads the electric ship market due presence of big players, OEMs, and component manufacturers which are some of the factors expected to boost the growth of the electric ship market in the region. These players continuously invest in R&D to develop electric ship solution with improved efficiency and reliability. Additionally, the growing demand for electric shipping solutions for civil & commercial applications and their increasing utility in the defense sector for carrying out persistent transport and surveillance activities are additional factors influencing the growth of the European Electric Ship market. Key manufacturers and suppliers of Electric Ship in this region include ABB (Switzerland), Leclanché S.A. (Switzerland), Siemens AG (Germany), Wartsila (Finland) and Kongsberg Gruppen (Norway).

Electric Ship Market by Region

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Top Electric Ship Companies - Key Market Players

The Electric Ship Companies are dominated by globally established players such as ABB (Switzerland), Leclanché S.A. (Switzerland), Siemens AG (Germany), Wartsila (Finland) and Kongsberg Gruppen (Norway).

Electric Ship Market Report Scope

Electric Ship Market Highlights

This research report categorizes the Electric Ship market based on Type, Ship Type, System, Mode of Operation , End Use , Power, Tonnage, Range and Region

Recent Developments

• In March 2023, Wärtsilä will supply the main propulsion machinery, as well as a range of other equipment and systems for two new 110-meter-long amphibious transport vessels being built for the Chilean Navy. The order was placed by Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada (Asmar), the state-owned shipyard constructing the vessels..
• In February 2023, Kongsberg Maritime (KONGSBERG) will provide a suite of equipment to a newbuild ship named SDO-SuRS (Special and Diving Operations - Submarine Rescue Ship) to be built by the Italian shipyard T.Mariotti for Marina Militare Italiana (The Italian Navy).
• In February 2023, GE's local subsidiary in India signed a contract with Cochin Shipyard to provide a comprehensive digital solutions package to enhance the capabilities of the LM2500 marine gas turbines that power the Indian Navy's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-1 (IAC-1) Vikrant, which was commissioned in August 2022.
• In January 2023, Leclanché received orders for 22.6 MWh of battery systems from Stena RoRo and Brittany Ferries for next-generation hybrid ferries in the maritime industry.

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