UP CIDS-PEP Hosts Roundtable on Hybrid Electric Engines for Small Marine Vessels, Highlighting Strong Potential for Partner Support
To garner support and explore specific partnerships, the Political Economy Program (PEP) of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) organized a roundtable discussion (RTD) on retrofitting small marine vessels with hybrid electric propulsion for small marine vessels on 19 November 2024 via Zoom.
The collaboration between UP CIDS-PEP and the UP Department of Mechanical Engineering (UP DME) involves developing gasoline-electric hybrid engines tailored to the specific needs of outrigger bancas. By optimizing engine performance and fuel efficiency, this technology can potentially enable longer journeys and reduced operational costs for fishermen.
The second RTD on the project, the event brought together old and new key stakeholders from the government, the academe, and maritime industry. Potential partners expressed intentions of support in the form of providing technical assistance, facilitating testing, supplying bangkas for trials, among others.
Assistant Professor Paul Rodgers from the UP DME provided a detailed overview of hybrid electric propulsion systems for small marine vessel, discussing the technical aspects, including power flow, engine performance, propeller design, and system efficiency. He also outlined the project’s timeline, budget, and the importance of collaboration with partners.
“There are more than 240,000 registered bancas in the Philippines, and the success of the project could affect a huge number of people, particularly municipal fishermen who rely on bancas. For the project to be successful, it has to be simple and doable, easy to fabricate and cheap” stressed Asst. Prof. Rodgers.
Assistant Professor Paul Rodgers from the UP DME provided a detailed overview of hybrid electric propulsion systems for small marine vessel, discussing the technical aspects, including power flow, engine performance, propeller design, and system efficiency. He also outlined the project’s timeline, budget, and the importance of collaboration with partners.
“There are more than 240,000 registered bancas in the Philippines, and the success of the project could affect a huge number of people, particularly municipal fishermen who rely on bancas. For the project to be successful, it has to be simple and doable, easy to fabricate and cheap” stressed Asst. Prof. Rodgers.
Industry experts shared their insights and potential contributions. Engr. Carlito De Guzman of Chesteel Marine Industrial Corporation expressed support for the hybrid electric banca project,
highlighting its potential to reduce costs and environmental impact. He offered to collaborate with the project team, leveraging his industry expertise to contribute to the project’s success.
Moreover, Engr. Raymund Christopher Puso of Royal Crest Marine & Engineering Consultancy emphasized the importance of adopting hybrid technologies to address environmental concerns and
meet international maritime regulations. He highlighted the potential of starting with smaller vessels like bancas to test and refine the technology before scaling it up to larger vessels. He also offered to share his team’s experiences and expertise in developing similar technologies.
Government representatives provided feedback on the scalability of the project and potential collaborations. Engr. Edgar Francis Buno of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
expressed support for the hybrid electric banca project, highlighting its environmental benefits and ease of retrofitting. He also offered technical assistance and potential financial support from BFAR.
On the other hand, Engr. Julius Mayorga of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) emphasized the importance of the project in addressing environmental concerns and meeting
industry standards. He acknowledged potential challenges but highlighted the potential support from DOST to overcome these obstacles and contribute to the project’s success.
Members of the UP Research and Development (R&D) community also provided insights. Professor Rafael Mantaring of the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UPERDFI) expressed enthusiasm for the project and emphasized the need for realistic budgeting and a clear project plan. He also offered potential support to assist in the project’s implementation.
Meanwhile, Dr. Laura David of the UP Marine Science Institute (MSI) demonstrated eagerness for the project and offered to collaborate by providing access to research facilities and bancas. She suggested exploring the potential of this hybrid engine in the tourism industry.
Atty. Josephine Uranza of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) also sent a statement which was read during the RTD, stressing the importance of compliance with relevant instruments of the IMO on fishing vessel safety and the safety of seafarers on board.
This project on modernizing traditional Filipino fishing boats began with the first RTD on the blueprint of the technology on 5 December 2022, and proceeded early in 2023 with field visits to
coastal cities of Navotas in Rizal province and Mariveles, Bataan.
In 2025, with ample support and assistance from partners, the PEP shall embark on the advanced phases of the project, namely on-water testing and performance evaluation of the prototype of the
hybrid engine towards product design and development.