Most Maritime Shipping Battery Propulsion Studies Are Already Obsolete - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica argues that most existing maritime shipping battery propulsion studies are now outdated due to rapid advancements in battery technology, particularly in cost and energy density. Earlier studies assumed battery costs between $300 and $500 per kWh and volumetric energy densities of 30 to 50 kWh per cubic meter. However, recent large-scale Chinese battery energy storage system (BESS) tenders have achieved prices near $65 per kWh, with containerized battery blocks reaching about 190 kWh per cubic meter—significantly higher than previous assumptions. Gravimetric energy densities for ship-appropriate battery packs are estimated between 140 and 175 Wh per kilogram, and fully installed maritime battery systems are projected to cost between $100 and $180 per kWh, including integration and compliance costs. These updated metrics provide a new baseline for evaluating maritime battery propulsion feasibility. The article also discusses how shifts in global shipping patterns, driven by declining fossil fuel bulk trade and increased steel recycling, are