Ireland’s seafood development agency Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) – which has a dive training base in Castletownbere, South West Ireland – has  invested in a three-phase marine energy installation based around a hybrid generator.

Occasional hiccups in performance from the old diesel generator on board the dive training Barge meant that it wasn’t able to provide voltage-and-frequency stable power to some of the boats sensitive life support equipment.

A hybrid generator prioritises power supply from battery-stored energy. Battery power is replaced as far as possible from solar energy – and the generator is used to make up any shortfall. Generator efficiency is maximised because it runs only when needed, and at its maximum rating.

In addition to heavy weight mechanical devices, such as electric cranes, lifting gear, air compressors, the dive training barge has a decompression chamber together with associated breathing support devices to which a stable electricity supply is critical. There is also welding gear, and because a significant part of the barge’s work includes night time training – its lighting systems are also essential.

Their old three-phase generator was entirely diesel dependent, but the new hybrid generator introduces lithium battery stored energy together a small (2.25kW) solar array – as space very limited. The panels will work everyday to recharge the batteries making a significant contribution between training programmes. And because the barge is moored a short distance offshore, a wind turbine is under consideration which could provide 24hour power from its exposed location.

One of the greatest advantages of the Victron-based energy system is that it is modular and can easily be expanded at any time to include more power, more capacity, or to introduce new sources of energy harvest.

During the winter the barge is brought ashore for maintenance where it is plugged into mains power. The Quattro Inverter/Charger’s bi-directional capability allows the 48V DC battery to be charged from an AC power source – ensuring  that the battery bank is periodically fully charged and balanced. In fact the Quattro has two AC power inlets and will automatically switch to the live power source – no manual intervention is needed.

The Quattro also has two AC power outlets – one of which shuts down if there is no incoming AC power source detected. Users often connect high load, non-essential equipment – such as Air Conditioning units – to this port to ensure that the battery never becomes depleted by providing energy for non operation-critical loads. It’s a simple but game-changing feature.

The system was installed by independent energy specialist, Victron distributor and system installer EnergyFreedom Systems. The Dive Training Barge installation consists of the following primary devices:

3 x Quattro 8kVA in 3 phase setup.
5 x Cegasa E/Bick Ultra 175 Lithium Ion batteries with a total capacity of 67kWh
5 x 435 W Jinko PV panels
1 x SmartSolar MPPT 250/60 solar charge controller
There’s a SmartShunt 1000A to monitor battery Ah and generator starter batery
1 x 25kVA 3phase generator running on Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO)

The system is controlled by Cerbo GX  communication device which provides data communication between installed devices and also a GX Touch 70 which provides an easy to use local interface to monitor or programme the system. The Cerbo GX also provides data to the internet based platform Victron Remote Management (VRM) allowing the installing engineers from EnergyFreedom Systems to monitor and even control the power system without the need to attend the offshore installation.

Company Engineer Maciek Banski says: “The main challenge was to get clean power and plenty of quiet time – without the generator running – so as to limit vibrations and noise, and also achieve fuel efficiency.”  The selection of devices for this hybrid generator installation achieves this through the Inverters unique Power Assist feature – which delivers peak energy demands by adding stored Battery Power to the generators AC output. It does this automatically on demand.

The small solar energy provision is at its most useful in the summer, of course, when there is plenty of sun – with the frequent result that the generator isn’t needed at all!

Cork based EnergyFreedom Systems provide power solutions for the marine, industrial and domestic market. Maciek is passionate about sustainable energy and is never happier than when he is training others – he has been invited to pass on his knowledge by lecturing at the BIM college.

Let’s hear from students taking a BIM dive course, and take a look at their facility: