Hybrid photovoltaic/diesel green ship operating in standalone and grid-connected mode – Experimental investigation

This paper presents the experimental results from the operation of a proto-type green ship in Geoje island, South Korea. As Korea is a peninsula situated between the continent and the sea, its location is ideal for utilizing PV/diesel green ship. After ground testing with a stand-alone PV (photovoltaic) generation system, this PV system was added to a conventional diesel ship. The proto-type green ship consisted of a photovoltaic (PV) generation system, diesel engine, battery energy storage, hybrid control system, and a stand-alone and grid-connected inverter. The aim of the green ship was not only to minimize fuel consumption but also to support the power grid as DG (distributed generation) connected to the smart grid (in land) and micro-grid (in island) in the near future. At the end of this paper, environmental, economic and sensitivity analysis would be discussed mainly based on experimental results.

► The hybrid PV/diesel green ship operates not only in a stand-alone mode but also when connected to a smart grid.
► The hybrid PV/diesel green ship passed the stability assessment test by the authorized department.
► The payback period of initial investment can be reduced due to the decreasing PV module costs, increasing diesel fuel costs.
► The proposed green ship will decrease the dependence on fossil fuels and extend the energy flow from land to island.