Kinetic Energy Harvesting on Marine Vessels

November 21, 2018

Attachment 2 contains questions and answers related to the challenge.

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October 30, 2018

Attachment 1 contains questions and answers related to the challenge.

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This Challenge Notice is issued under the Innovative Solutions Canada Program Call for Proposals 002 (EN578-170003/C).

Please refer to the Solicitation Documents which contain the process for submitting a proposal.

Steps to apply:

Step 1: read this challenge

Step 2: read the Call for Proposals

Step 3: propose your solution

CHALLENGE TITLE: Kinetic Energy Harvesting on Marine Vessels

CHALLENGE SPONSOR: Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard

FUNDING MECHANISM: Contract

MAXIMUM CONTRACT VALUE:

Multiple contracts could result from this Challenge.

The maximum funding available for any Phase 1 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $150,000.00 CAD (plus tax) including shipping, travel and living expenses, as applicable, for up to 6 months.

The maximum funding available for any Phase 2 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $1,000,000.00 CAD (plus tax) including shipping, travel and living expenses, as applicable, for up to 2 years. Only eligible businesses that have completed Phase 1 could be considered for Phase 2.

This disclosure is made in good faith and does not commit Canada to contract for the total approximate funding.

TRAVEL:

No travel is anticipated for Phase 1

Kick-off meeting: Teleconference/videoconference

Progress Review Meeting: Teleconference/videoconference

Final Review Meeting: Teleconference/videoconference

PROBLEM SUMMARY

Coast Guard seeks solutions for harnessing kinetic energy from the roll, pitch and yaw of marine vessels with the goal of reducing energy consumption and reliance on externally-sourced and stored energy.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Coast Guard seeks solutions that will help eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from its operations, in support of Canada's Paris Agreement commitment to fight global warming and climate change through significant greenhouse gas reductions through 2030. This will require a process of 'decarbonizing,' which refers to an accelerating reduction of GHGs through time.

As part of a system-approach to decarbonizing marine vessel operations, this challenge seeks novel or state-of-the-art, scalable solutions for harnessing kinetic energy from the roll, pitch and yaw of marine vessels with the goal of reducing energy consumption and reliance on externally-sourced and stored energy.

DESIRED OUTCOMES AND CONSIDERATIONS

Essential Outcomes

Proposed solutions must:

• Be safe to operate within medium and large ship interiors, and/or on the exterior of small crafts like rigid hulled inflatable boats (RHIBS) or small vessels like Coast Guard's Near-shore Fisheries Research Vessel (NSFRV);
• Direct harvested energy to an energy storage system or make it available for immediate use;
• Reduce fatigue on materials (through harnessing kinetic energy associated with jarring movements of onboard equipment, or impacts to hulls, for example);
• Improve comfort levels for operators (ex: reducing equipment footprint in machinery spaces, reducing vibration/noise associated with engine use, isolating operators from oscillations that cause sea-sickness);
• Be scalable across the maritime sector; and
• Be emissions-free, in alignment with the Government's goal of reduced greenhouse gas emissions; solutions would contribute no new carbon footprint to vessel operations (it is acknowledged there will be a carbon footprint associated with the production of potential solutions).

Additional Outcomes

Proposed solutions designed for end-of-life-cycle management - i.e., maximal recovery of materials – will be preferred over those that do not factor end-of-life-cycle management.

• Solutions would preferably be designed for production using readily-sourced materials with low embodied energy requirements.
• Energy outputs would preferably be AC (alternating current), and the technology would be resistant to damage from exposure to high humidity, fresh and saltwater, and potentially, extreme cold (as experienced in Arctic operations).
• Solutions that both generate electricity and reduce negative impacts of vessel roll, pitch and yaw upon crew members (e.g., sea-sickness, noise abatement, vibration reduction) would be favourable. In addition, solutions that reduce stress/fatigue on ship materials would also be favourable.

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The maritime sector at large is struggling to transition away from a heavy reliance on cheap, broadly accessible fossil fuels for powering vessel operation across all categories, from small personal craft to the world's largest freighters. International Maritime Organization regulations targeting reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, have driven iterative technology advances that are costly, yet don't support a 'step-change' toward use of renewable, emissions-free energy for vessel operations.

Renewable, emissions-free energy is slowly being introduced into vessel operations via the use of energy storage systems (batteries), and as stand-alone systems in small and medium-sized vessels. However, the cutting-edge technology available is not suitable for operation of all vessel classes for voyages/activities that require long endurance and/or unpredictable energy demands; the energy density of energy storage systems remains limiting.

If the maritime sector is to remain the 'greenest' transportation system, it will have to adopt energy generation technologies aboard vessels in operations. This would introduce energy security and independence into vessel operations, akin to land-based operations that leverage renewable energy systems.

Given the realities of marine vessel operations on even the calmest of waters, there appears to be great potential to harness kinetic energy within vessels for use aboard the vessel, thereby introducing a degree of energy self-sufficiency. Kinetic energy generators have already been demonstrated that can generate electricity via kinetic movement (for example, being blown around by wind while suspended) across any axis. This suggests kinetic energy could be harvested by generators within the bounds of a marine vessel by virtue of the very same oscillations that cause sea-sickness in humans.

ENQUIRIES

All enquiries must be submitted in writing to TPSGC.SIC-ISC.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca no later than ten calendar days before the Challenge Notice closing date. Enquiries received after that time may not be answered.