Emerging Trends and Challenges in Smart Power Distribution for Marine Transportation

The maritime industry is experiencing a shift towards electrification of the propulsion system. This paper investigates the emerging trends and challenges in smart power distribution designed for marine propulsion, focusing on all-electric ships (AES) and hybrid energy systems. The typical components of the AES, such as generators, Energy storage systems (ESS), power system architecture, etc., are explored. The operational challenges in onboard ship power distribution and integration of shore microgrid with AES are presented. Advanced computing techniques and technology advancements in AES bring new challenges like optimization and cybersecurity. These challenges are further discussed in view of power quality and management.