Grant: Alliance Grants

The Canadian marine sector and many related industries are presently stressed with insufficient R&D resources due to a large number of emerging projects to design, manufacture, and retrofit ships as a result of more stringent environmental, economical, and functional requirements. These include reducing environmental footprint, integrating new technologies, and improving resilience to emergencies. A compelling strategy to address these goals is to develop efficient and resilient shipboard electric power systems coupled with energy storage, along with an integrated framework for the design, verification, and operation of shipboard power systems. Traditionally, marine engineers design and build shipboard systems by integrating commercial off-the-shelf components across a wide range of subsystems, including power and propulsion, sensors and actuators, as well as computing and control. The entire process can be greatly enhanced and de-risked with research focused on pervasive industry problems. The proposed research project will develop advanced tools for modelling, optimizing, and evaluating the performance of integrated shipboard electric power and propulsion systems, with an emphasis on improving system-wide efficiency and resilience. The research will proceed via three interrelated tasks: i) developing advanced models and simulation tools, ii) optimizing energy utilization and data-driven control, and iii) designing for resilience and fast recovery of operability. The developed tools and capabilities will serve as a unique testbed for our partner organizations. The proposed research is essential for our partner organizations and the marine industry in Canada and beyond, as a pathway toward designing, building, and retrofitting more efficient and resilient electrified ships. The proposed project will also serve as a much-needed source of highly qualified personnel who will be trained with real-world industrial experience. The success of this program will bolster Canada's position in the global trend toward ship electrification and ensure Canada's economy fully benefits along the path of evolving marine transportation.