NYK to Use Binary Cycle Power Generation System on New Panamax

NYK Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) intends to deploy a binary cycle power generation system on a newly constructed Panamax bulk carrier to be operated by the company. As explained, the system will generate electricity from the exhaust heat emitted by the marine engines air cooler. In addition, NYK is to provide the system developer with operational data from the ship to help improve the product. A binary cycle power generation system for ships has been jointly developed by Kobe Steel, Miura, and Asahi Shipping and has received approval as “environmental equipment” from Japan’s ship classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK). The generated electric power will serve as auxiliary power and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 2.3 percent by decreasing fuel consumption. NYK has previously equipped Capesize bulk carriers and pure car and truck carriers with hybrid power supply systems to utilize exhaust heat from engine exhaust gas. However, the binary cycle power generation system will give the opportunity to reuse engine exhaust heat to generate electricity on Panamax vessels, according to NYK.