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www.sea-technology.com July 2014 / st 19 In 2009, the founders of Corvus Energy saw a signifcant need for high-power energy storage. The world was in the midst of a global economic crisis, and companies were reel- ing from increasing fuel costs. In the years leading up to the crisis, marine environmental laws had been strengthened and the shipping industry was facing increasing pressure to cut emissions. It was, in fact, the perfect storm to create the hybrid vessel. The Foss-owned Carolyn Dorothy, a newly re- ft hybrid tugboat, had just launched and became a success- ful demonstration of a hybrid system at work. Using a lead- acid battery weighing about 18,000 pounds, it was able to achieve a 25 percent fuel reduction, a 25 percent carbon dioxide reduction and a 75 percent reduction in particulate emissions. The only weak point was the batteries; it went through so many that it was spending more time running on diesel than as a hybrid. The Carolyn Dorothy was proof that a hybrid tugboat could work to reduce emissions and save money—a better I n 2009, Corvus Energy (Richmond, Canada) began work- ing on a next-generation battery to provide energy storage for commercial marine propulsion. In the fve years since, the company has defned a new industry and built itself into a market leader. History Mention the word "hybrid" and people immediately think of the Toyota Prius; the not-so-attractive economy car preferred by coffee-house enthusiasts around the world. Most people don't think of offshore supply vessels in winter storms in the North Sea, tugboats safely escorting chemical tankers through busy ports, or 700-foot-long passenger fer- ries running on a near 24-hours-a-day schedule, day in and day out. But Corvus Energy does, and these vessels are the reason they designed the award-winning industrial lithium battery used in most commercial hybrid vessels on the water today. The Marine Hybrid Battery is Here Corvus Energy Develops a Greener Power Solution for Vessels By Grant Brown The Østensjø Edda Ferd, a 926-meter platform supply vessel, currently in service with Shell UK.