SRC Group and Energy Transfer have forged a strategic partnership to introduce advanced, fully electric, high-efficiency heat pump solutions to the maritime industry. This collaboration aims to significantly reduce capital expenditure, operational costs, and emissions-related compliance expenses for shipowners.

Under the terms of the agreement, SRC Group has secured exclusive rights to deploy Energy Transfer’s innovative heat pump technology within the maritime sector. SRC Group will be responsible for offering, integrating, and delivering these systems to shipowners and shipyards. This partnership effectively merges SRC Group’s extensive expertise in maritime engineering and retrofitting with Energy Transfer’s cutting-edge thermal management technology. The resulting solution is designed to be equally suitable for new vessel constructions and existing ship retrofits.

The system replaces traditional oil-fired boilers and conventional chillers with a comprehensive electric heating and cooling solution for onboard operations. Under optimal conditions, it can generate up to 11 kW of combined thermal output for every 1 kW of electrical input, facilitating simultaneous heating and cooling. This exceptional efficiency translates into a substantially lower total cost of ownership compared to existing marine technologies.

Engineered for practical application, the heat pump features a compact, modular, and skid-mounted design, making it ideal for the space-constrained environments of engine rooms. Each unit is custom-designed to precisely meet a vessel’s specific thermal demands, onboard layout, and integration requirements, including HVAC, hot water, and sanitary systems. The system utilizes inverter-controlled screw compressors and high-efficiency heat exchangers to ensure consistent performance across diverse operating loads. The standard thermal capacity ranges from 200 kW to 3 MW, with options for larger capacities available upon request. A 3 MW installation is already successfully operational.

Shipowners are projected to experience a return on investment typically within two years, a benefit driven by lower initial capital costs, superior energy efficiency, and reduced emissions.

Stefano Pitton, Chief Technology Officer at SRC Group, stated, “The maritime sector requires solutions that are not only technically robust and commercially viable but also readily deployable today. This solution enables up to zero-emission heating and cooling during electric operation, while simultaneously offering lower upfront costs, significant energy savings, and rapid payback periods for shipowners.”

Lucia Favaretto, Co-founder of Energy Transfer, added, “Our heat pump technology is engineered to maximize efficiency while minimizing physical footprint and system complexity. Collaborating with SRC Group provides a direct and effective pathway to the maritime market, where this solution can deliver immediate energy and cost benefits.”

SRC Group and Energy Transfer partner on marine heat pump solutions