News – Hybrid Marine

Barrus and Hybrid Marine announce a joint venture to create a new hybrid propulsion system company, Hybrid Marine International

Barrus and Hybrid Marine are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement to create a new hybrid propulsion systems company, Hybrid Marine International.

This joint venture takes their fourteen-year partnership to the next level in the drive to support the government’s strategic vision for a clean maritime sector in the UK by 2050.

Since 2010, Barrus and Hybrid Marine have been working together in the development of hybrid propulsion systems based on Yanmar marine diesel engines, a global standard in sailboats and small craft propulsion.

“We are pleased to announce this joint venture, delivering on our commitment to support green marine power expectations,” said Graham Knox, Chief Executive, Barrus Ltd. “Hybrid Marine International has been established to design, manufacture and sell hybrid propulsion systems for applications including inland canal boats, commercial barges and sailing boats. The joint venture cements our successful collaboration thus far, and we look forward to working together to unlock the potential of our combined expertise.”

Hybrid Marine has been developing advanced hybrid systems since 2002, pioneered by the UK’s leading hybrid development engineer, Graeme Hawksley. The first company in the world to introduce a production parallel hybrid system to the marine sector, Hybrid Marine’s award-winning patented power and propulsion solution system is the result of extensive research and is well-proven.

Hybrid Marine’s customer base has grown to include leading UK canal boatbuilders, such as Braidbar Boats, European commercial craft operators, Aister (Spain) “Pelican” vessels and exponential growth in the luxury catamaran market with Antares Catamarans, Max Cruise Marine, and Hudson Yacht Group, whose HH44 Sport Cruiser is Sailing World’s Boat of the Year 2024.

Graeme Hawksley explained: “When we first started investigating marine hybrids, the market for these systems did not exist. Apart from a few early adopters, hybrids were viewed as blue sky products, something for the future rather than now. Finally, in 2024, “the future is now!” Our next stage on the journey is to scale up to meet the demand we have helped to generate. Hybrid Marine and Barrus both have considerable experience in hybrid systems. The natural next step is to combine forces, and I am delighted to be part of this new and exciting joint venture.”

Hybrid Marine International will continue to provide custom packages to OEM boat builders in the UK and worldwide who wish to offer hybrid technology to their customers requiring new boat builds in the leisure and commercial markets.

Barrus is committed to maintaining Hybrid Marine International’s position as a leader in hybrid technology and the continued investment in its Bicester-based engineering facility. Further significant investments in production facilities have been made to support the growth and development of hybrid propulsion systems.

Green Hybrid Solution

In September 2023, the UK government set the path for all new cars to have zero emissions by 2035. The simple answer is that it does not apply to marine craft as there are different targets here.

How does this affect marine craft?

The simple answer is that it does not apply to marine craft as this sector has different targets.

In 2018, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed on its initial strategy for reducing greenhouse gasses (GHGs) from ships. This strategy commits the maritime sector globally to reducing emissions of GHGs from shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.

In January 2019, the UK government published Maritime 2050, a strategic vision for a clean maritime sector in the UK.

In support of this strategy, the Government has published the Clean Maritime Plan, the Environment Route Map of Maritime 2050 and sets out Clean Maritime Plan Ambitions for the UK. These zero-emissions shipping ambitions are intended to provide aspirational goals for the sector, not mandatory targets.

You can download this document from the link above. There are a lot of words and lofty ideas here (60 pages of this), but it is the closest indication we can get about what may happen in the future.

Here is Hybrid Marine’s interpretation and response to the Clean Marine Plan :

To reach the vision for 2050, the Government has set out expectations for 2025 and 2035:

By 2025
All vessels operating in UK waters are maximising energy efficiency options. All new vessels being ordered for use in UK waters are designed with zero-emission propulsion capability. Zero-emission commercial vessels are in operation in UK waters.
The UK is building clean maritime clusters focused on innovation and infrastructure associated with zero-emission propulsion technologies, including low or zero-emission fuel bunkering.
A well-designed hybrid system maximises the energy efficiency of the Diesel engine, and Electric drive mode provides a zero-emission propulsion capability. Hybrid Marine (HM) Parallel hybrids have met the 2025 vision since 2007, so we are well ahead of UK government targets.

Canal boat 2

Titania Parallel hybrid, Stratford Upon Avon. In operation since 2010

By 2035
The UK has built a number of clean maritime clusters. These combine infrastructure and innovation for the use of zero-emission propulsion technologies. Low or zero-emission marine fuel bunkering options are readily available across the UK.
Our Hybrid systems are very well placed to take advantage of infrastructure improvements. As more charging points become available, a larger part of a craft’s operating cycle can be performed from zero-carbon resources.

The Clean Maritime Plan (Section3,67, page 25) identifies the technologies to achieve zero-emissions

“Electricity is estimated to play a much smaller role than that of alternative fuels, with electric propulsion take up limited to vessels that operate short voyages, such as short ferry crossings. Its use is expected to be more significant for the UK domestic fleet than the UK international fleet, but it is still estimated to remain relatively small under all scenarios. This conclusion is sensitive, however, to current cost assumptions, such as regarding the capital cost of batteries.”

The UK government does not see electrification as the solution for marine craft like its policy on-road vehicles. Engines will still be employed, with alternative fuels being seen as the way forward. The Hybrid Marine propulsion system can operate for extended periods in an electric drive where recharging facilities exist. It can be mated to a conventional or fuelled engine as these become available. We have already supplied hybrid engines that run on 100% bio-diesel.

Cinema

The floating cinema runs on 100% bio diesel when available and conventional diesel when not.

While Pure Electric propulsion is technically achievable, there are a number of limiting factors.

The recharging infrastructure needed to support pure electric craft across the UK inland waterways network does not exist and will be expensive to install. In the short to medium term, Electric propulsion may be suitable for boats with a limited route or range, such as trip or day boats. For a “go anywhere” boat capable of navigating the network without being tied to specific charge points, some form of Hybrid propulsion is needed. Most of the “Electric boats” currently on the network are, in reality, serial hybrids with a diesel generator on board.
Replacing a diesel engine with an equivalent power motor is very expensive. This is why many low-power electric boats are incapable of dealing with adverse conditions. There is nothing magical about a motor (despite many claims to the contrary). A 10hp motor is equivalent to a 10hp diesel engine. You would not fit a 10hp diesel engine to a narrow boat or barge and expect it to deal with anything more than a quiet canal. This should be considered when selecting an electric motor as the prime mover.
The Hybrid Marine Parallel system is the ideal solution. It uses any charging infrastructure available but is not limited by it and has the same range and power as a conventionally powered boat.

Natalia 3phase Arras charging point
Natalia at her 3-phase charging point in Crobie (Somme) Natalia is re-charging overnight in Arras

Conclusion
There is no compulsion in the Clean Maritime Plan. It is, however, a strong indication of the future.

Some European cities are already implementing zero-emission zones for their waterways (e.g., Amsterdam). The UK is likely to follow these initiatives at some time.

The Hybrid Marine Parallel system meets all the requirements of the Clean Marine Plan and would satisfy the requirements for zero-emission zones if they were introduced in the UK.

Hybrid Marine has been selling systems for over 12 years to boaters who appreciate the many benefits provided. This has been achieved despite any legislative requirements, and these hybrids are considerably ahead of the Clean Marine plan. This success is due to developing high-feature systems at a moderate price. Hybrid Marine propulsion systems would future-proof you against any currently proposed legislation.