Alewijnse and TU Delft take a major step towards a sustainable future

A shared vision for a sustainable world

Climate change and globalisation present significant challenges to the maritime and industrial sectors. The demand for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solutions is greater than ever, with the aim of reducing CO₂ and NOₓ emissions and improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Optimising the use of sustainable fuels and advanced energy systems plays a key role in this.

With a shared vision for sustainability, Alewijnse and TU Delft are collaborating closely on developing energy conversion solutions. By integrating science, engineering and design, they are creating applications that are directly applicable to various types of ships and industrial installations. These include innovative hybrid energy solutions, energy quality assessments, hardware-in-the-loop testing, payback calculations for battery solutions, automated engineering models, and unique lightning protection systems.

Alewijnse is a major player in the sustainability market, with extensive knowledge and experience in electrification and automation, supported by a broad business network. As a result, more TU Delft students eager to tackle technical and societal challenges are finding their way to Alewijnse. Four students have already completed their thesis research at Alewijnse and three of them now working full-time in the company to further develop their research for the maritime market.

Making an impact in the maritime industry

One standout example of the benefits of engaging with young talent is Samit Goud, who completed his Masters degree in August 2024. He has developed a simulation model in Matlab/Simulink for the optimal protection of electrical DC-grid systems on board ships. These installations are increasingly utilizing direct current (DC-grid) instead of alternating current (AC-grid) because many renewables, such as batteries and fuel cells, have DC grid characteristics. “At Alewijnse, I have the freedom to create solutions that have the potential to have a significant impact on the maritime industry,” says Samit.

Modelling and real-time simulation 

Another young innovator, Matthijs Mosselaar, continued his career at Alewijnse after completing his Master thesis on electrical network modelling for ships, focusing on short-circuit calculations, protection and selectivity. “With a new software tool for automated engineering, we can reduce engineering hours, simplify modifications and mitigate risks, leading to more efficient projects for clients,” Matthijs explains.

Akhil Ajith conducted a real-time simulation study on a hybrid propulsion system for a cable-laying vessel owned by a renowned Dutch shipping company. Building on a system design developed by fellow TU Delft student Sankarshan Durgaprasad, Akhil created a simulation (digital twin) model for energy management systems that optimizes the distributed energy resources on the grid to significantly reduce fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and maintenance costs in real-time. “The gap between sustainable solutions in the maritime field and other segments presents numerous opportunities for groundbreaking innovations,” Akhil explains.