Read online at National Fishermen
December 22, 2023
Guest Author:
Linda Behnken & Kay Kreiss
The Sitka fishing fleet is pioneering energy-efficient commercial fishing. In 2021, the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) was selected by the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to partner in exploring ways fishing vessels can be powered by low- or zero-emissions propulsion systems. Two years later, the Vehicle Technology Office (VTO) funded ALFA to oversee three projects that will pilot different low-emission technologies.
The first is a hybrid battery-diesel system that allows a fishing boat to use diesel when traveling quickly to fishing grounds and then switch to a battery-electric motor when fishing. This system can reduce fuel consumption by up to 80% without requiring significant changes in fishing practices on one-to-two-day trips. It will be funded with grant support from AgWest Farm Credit and Acme Seafoods, with coordination and data support from Kempy Energetics. The hybrid system is designed to optimize the use of the engine and motor and will be equipped with data loggers to measure the fuel efficiency achieved at sea.
The second pilot project will test a different type of propulsion system that will be determined based on interest from the fleet. One candidate is a series hybrid system that allows fishing boats to reduce fuel use when running short or long distances. At all speeds, an electric motor powers the propeller, and a battery powers the motor. The battery can be charged at a Sitka dock with our green hydropower, or if a skipper needs to travel hundreds of miles, a diesel generator on-board can recharge the boat’s batteries. ALFA is inviting boat owners to apply for this retrofit. You can find the pre-application at https://www.alfafish.org/vto-project.