Key takeaways
Energy storage systems (ESS) significantly improve stability under high-transient loads
Hybrid systems (HESS) deliver the best performance for sustained high-power demand
High-performance simulation enabled rapid evaluation of multiple energy storage technologies across large parameter sets
Supports future electrified marine architectures
Reduces generator stress and improves operational efficiency
The Challenge
Modern marine power systems are increasingly required to support highly dynamic electrical loads, such as propulsion systems, radar technologies, and directed-energy equipment. These systems often demand sudden bursts of power within milliseconds, placing significant stress on traditional generators designed for stable operation.
As naval and commercial vessels transition toward electrified architectures, maintaining system stability during rapid power changes has become a critical engineering challenge. Without intervention, high-transient loads can lead to voltage instability, inefficient generator operation, increased fuel consumption, and accelerated component wear.
Energy Storage Systems (ESS)—including batteries, supercapacitors, and hybrid configurations—offer a promising solution by acting as fast-response buffers between generation and load.
Project Overview
This project investigated how different energy storage technologies could support high-transient electrical loads in modern marine power systems.
The work focused on developing accurate simulation models of:
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
- Supercapacitor Energy Storage Systems (SCESS)
- Hybrid Energy Storage Systems (HESS)
“These models were integrated into a representative shipboard power system model to evaluate system performance during demanding operational scenarios, including rapid pulsed loads. Managing rapid load changes efficiently is essential for maintaining safe and reliable vessel operation.”
Andreas Avras MEng MIET, R&D Engineer, PNDC
PNDC’s Approach
PNDC led the modelling and simulation work to evaluate advanced energy storage solutions for marine power systems.
Medium-fidelity electrical models of multiple storage technologies were developed and integrated into a complete shipboard power system model using MATLAB/Simulink. Large-scale simulation campaigns were then carried out to assess performance under realistic operating conditions, including pulsed high-power loads.
- PNDC capabilities applied
- Digital modelling and simulation platforms
- High-performance computing (ARCHIE-WeSt)
- Power system integration expertise
- Hybrid control strategy development
- The project demonstrated that advanced energy storage systems significantly improve the stability and performance of marine electrical networks under high-transient load conditions.
Outcomes
Key Findings
The project delivered a robust and scalable framework for SST integration testing in data centre environments.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Delivered strong performance during short-duration transient events, improving voltage stability and frequency response.
Supercapacitor Systems (SCESS)
Provided extremely fast response times but were limited by available stored energy during extended operation.
Hybrid Systems (HESS)
Delivered the best overall performance, supporting sustained high-power demand while reducing system stress.
Overall, the results confirmed that selecting the appropriate energy storage architecture depends strongly on the operational profile—particularly whether demand is short-duration or sustained. Hybrid energy storage systems offer the best balance of performance, endurance, and system stability under high-power demand.
Project Impact
In collaboration with BAE Systems, PNDC delivered a structured evaluation of advanced energy storage technologies, generating measurable technical and operational value.
Key impacts included:
Reduced generator stress during pulsed load operation
Improved voltage and frequency stability
Enabled rapid evaluation of multiple ESS technologies
Demonstrated feasibility of hybrid ESS architectures
Accelerated design decision-making through scalable modelling workflows
BAE Systems welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with PNDC on this energy modelling project.
PNDC brought valuable knowledge and resources that strongly supported the work undertaken. The team demonstrated extensive expertise in the use of digital modelling tools, producing multiple representative models of a range of energy storage solutions and successfully integrating them within the wider ship model. Through rigorous testing, their technical depth enabled effective data analysis, culminating in clear insights and well-founded key findings.
Connect with PNDC’s project lead, Andreas Avras, on LinkedIn.