AYK Energy Lands Nine-Vessel Marine Battery Deal with Grimaldi Group

AYK Energy has secured a landmark contract to supply 18,657 kWh of its DNV type-approved OrionAN battery systems across nine next-generation, methanol-hybrid RoPax vessels ordered by the Grimaldi Group for Mediterranean and Baltic routes. The deal solidifies AYK’s rapid commercial expansion alongside high-profile projects like the Polarstern 2, highlighting a growing maritime shift toward cost-effective, high-capacity energy storage systems that deliver a clear return on investment.

Andorra | June 29, 2026 – In a major commercial victory for the maritime electrification sector, fast-growing battery manufacturer AYK Energy has secured a massive contract to supply its state-of-the-art energy storage systems (ESS) to the Grimaldi Group. The deal covers a fleet of nine next-generation, multi-fuel Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger (RoPax) vessels. Each ship will be equipped with AYK’s 2,073 kWh OrionAN marine battery system, culminating in a collective fleet capacity of 18,657 kWh.

The vessels are currently ordered at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai), with a staggered delivery window slated between 2028 and 2030. Once deployed, six of the vessels will enter service in the Mediterranean under the Grimaldi Lines and Minoan Lines banners, while the remaining three will be operated by Grimaldi’s Baltic subsidiary, Finnlines.

Fleet Deployment & Capacity Breakdown

Technical Integration: The Multi-Fuel Hybrid Ecosystem

The selection of AYK Energy’s OrionAN system highlights a growing trend in blue-water shipping: the pairing of heavy battery systems with alternative internal combustion fuels. The new Grimaldi RoPax vessels are designed around a highly sophisticated green propulsion framework.

Rather than relying purely on electrification, the ships feature multi-fuel engines optimized to run on green methanol, alongside a deeply integrated suite of efficiency technologies:

• Methanol-Ready Propulsion: Providing low-carbon transit capabilities over long-distance routes.
• Peak Shaving & Zero-Emission Port Stays: The 2,073 kWh OrionAN battery pack will handle auxiliary loads, smooth out generator spikes (peak shaving), and enable zero-emission maneuvers while entering, exiting, and idling in port.
• Waste Heat Recovery & Shore Power: Excess thermal energy will be recaptured and converted to electricity, while high-voltage shore connection capabilities will allow the ships to shut down all engines entirely when berthed.
• Hydrodynamic Optimization: Advanced hull geometry paired with high-efficiency propeller designs to drastically reduce drag.

Proving the ROI of Maritime Batteries

A critical catalyst for this deal was AYK Energy securing DNV Type Approval for its latest product range last year. In the maritime industry, DNV certification acts as the gold-standard validator for safety, thermal runaway mitigation, and structural cycle-life under harsh marine conditions.

According to AYK Energy founder Chris Kruger, achieving this type approval transformed the market dynamics from custom-engineered, cost-prohibitive projects to scalable, commercialized manufacturing.

DNV Type Approval Secured –> Mass Production Scalability –> Drastic Capital Cost Reduction –> Rapid Fleet Adoption (Grimaldi)

Kruger emphasizes that for the shipping industry to achieve mass decarbonization, sustainability initiatives must align with corporate balance sheets.

“We all want to see fewer emissions and green shipping,” Kruger stated. “But batteries will only be part of the decarbonization agenda if ship owners see the return on investment. There has to be a compelling business case. And that’s what the range of batteries that AYK can now offer is all about, the mass adoption of batteries that can pay for themselves within a matter of years.”

The Economics of the Deal

For the Grimaldi Group, a titan in the Ro-Ro and ferry sectors since 1947, this fleet renewal program solidifies its position at the vanguard of European maritime environmental regulation. As the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and FuelEU Maritime regulations tighten their grip on European waters, high-capacity hybrid vessels like these new RoPax designs will enjoy significant operational cost advantages over legacy, fossil-fueled fleets.

Inside AYK Energy: Driving the Maritime Electrification Frontier

Founded in 2018 by marine battery pioneer Chris Kruger, who developed the industry’s very first type-approved marine battery in 2013, AYK Energy has emerged as a disruptive force in global shipping’s low-carbon transformation. By merging Western design and engineering with highly efficient Eastern manufacturing and supply chain innovation, the company operates a 300 MWh automated factory (expandable to 1 GWh) that delivers customizable energy modules and standardized containerized solutions. AYK’s technology bridges the gap between land and sea through an integrated shore-to-ship energy architecture, backed by a global service network featuring remote diagnostic monitoring.

The manufacturer’s rapidly growing commercial footprint includes landmark projects across multiple vessel segments, highlighted by a 10.4 MWh hybrid upgrade for the Aurora Botnia, a combined 27.6 MWh supply for Baleària’s twin Mediterranean fast ferries, and a recent high-profile contract via Wärtsilä to supply a 16 MWh Pisces+ battery system for Germany’s next-generation polar research vessel, Polarstern 2, set to become the largest battery installation ever deployed on an ice-class ship.

Source: AYK Energy