Harland & Wolff Group Holdings plc announced a new partnership with Echandia. The partnership, announced during London International Shipping Week, will see Harland & Wolff (Technologies) Limited ("HWT") work with Echandia on the development of its battery technology, helping to increase the capability of the batteries and scaling the technology for new vessel types. The partnership gives H&W exclusive distribution rights for battery sales in the UK, Ireland and Australia for the maritime sector.

HWT will also establish a UK assembly line for the battery systems and provide in-service support for installations in field. This agreement builds upon the recently announced consortium between the two companies to develop and build zero emissions harbour and coastal tugs, alongside Macduff Ship Designers and Kongsberg Maritime. H&W Technologies was recently established by Harland & Wolff to drive forward the development of new technological solutions for the maritime sector.

These include batteries, future fuels and systems integration as well as the provision of in-service support. As the maritime sector transitions to low and zero emission operations, vessel owners and operators are testing different propulsion solutions for different segments within the sector. Batteries are being deployed for all vessel types, incorporating fully electric and hybrid solutions.

Echandia works with the world's largest shipyards and system integrators to equip new and retrofit vessels with batteries for hybridisation, full propulsion, and increased energy efficiency. Echandia has successfully deployed its battery systems in the ferry, naval and workboat sectors. The Echandia battery system is an air-cooled, lithium-ion battery system, certified for maritime heavy-duty usage.

With its robust construction and high performance, Echandia's battery systems are ideally suited for applications that require safe operation over a long lifetime.