Germany's Lehmann Marine has secured the first commercial order for its new liquid-cooled AQUBE battery system, placed by shipbuilder Lloyd Werft, a shipyard based in Bremerhaven, Germany.

The system will be installed on a new research vessel being built for the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the company said in a press release on Wednesday.

The 48-metre vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2027. It will be used to test different propulsion technologies, including hydrogen, hybrid and fully electric systems, and will operate as a floating test platform in the North and Baltic Seas, carrying up to 20 researchers and industry partners.

The AQUBE system uses liquid cooling and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry. It can deliver up to 2C peak power and 1.5C continuous power. LFP cells are widely used in energy storage applications and are known for their thermal stability and long cycle life, while liquid cooling helps maintain uniform cell temperatures and manage heat during high charge and discharge rates.

The order comes as shipping faces tightening emissions rules. Maritime transport accounts for roughly 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization, whose member states agreed in 2023 on a revised strategy to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by or around 2050. In Europe, the EU's FuelEU Maritime regulation, which has applied since January 2025, sets requirements on the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy used by ships calling at EU ports. Batteries are already in service on fully electric and hybrid ferries in Northern Europe, though their energy density remains well below that of conventional marine fuels, which has so far kept most deployments on shorter routes or hybrid duty profiles.

Lehmann Marine said the order marks the market launch of AQUBE. The company, which became part of Sunlight Group, said the system is also intended for wider marine applications, including ferries, offshore vessels and commercial ships.

Source: Ship & Bunker