Citation: Tao, Z.; Barrera-Cardenas, R.; Akbarzadeh, M.; Mo, O.; De Smet, J.; Stuyts, J. Design and Evaluation Framework for Modular Hybrid Battery Energy Storage Systems in Full-Electric Marine Applications. Batteries 2023, 9, 250. https:// doi.org/10.3390/batteries9050250 Academic Editors: Liang Gao, Akhil Garg, Wei Li and Rodolfo Dufo-López Received: 18 March 2023 Revised: 14 April 2023 Accepted: 26 April 2023 Published: 27 April 2023 Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). batteries Article Design and Evaluation Framework for Modular Hybrid Battery Energy Storage Systems in Full-Electric Marine Applications Zhenmin Tao 1, * , Rene Barrera-Cardenas 2 , Mohsen Akbarzadeh 1 , Olve Mo 2 , Jasper De Smet 1 and Jeroen Stuyts 1 1 Flanders Make, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium 2 SINTEF Energy Research, 7034 Trondheim, Norway * Correspondence: zhenmin.tao@flandersmake.be Abstract: In the context of the maritime transportation sector electrification, battery hybridization has been identified as a promising manner of meeting the critical requirements on energy and power density, as well as lifetime and safety. Today, multiple promising battery hybridization topologies have been identified, while there is not a level playing field enabling comparison between different topologies. This study bridges this gap directly by proposing a generic hybrid battery energy storage system (HBESS) design and evaluation framework in full-electric marine applications that accounts for the key design requirements in the system topology conceptualization phase. In doing so, generalized key component models, such as battery cell models, aging models, power converter models, and thermal models, are established. Additionally, given the selected key requirements in this study, the case study comparing one baseline monotype design and two HBESS topologies has shown the clear advantage of battery hybridization. Furthermore, we find that, depending on the topology selection and the specific load scenario being considered, power converter devices can also worsen the key performance indexes. Keywords: hybrid battery energy storage system; modular battery system; design and evaluation framework 1. Introduction The increasingly stringent worldwide regulations on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions call for decarbonization in all sectors. Among others, the transportation sector is undergoing a drastic change in phasing out fossil-fuel-based energy resources. The maritime transport of goods accounts for more than 70% of the world trade in terms of value and 80% in terms of volume [1,2]. The International Marine Organization (IMO) suggested that if the situation remains unchanged, the maritime transportation sector will be responsible for 12–18% of global carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions by 2050 [3,4]. In this regard, it is of vital importance to substantially reduce the environmental im-pact of maritime transportation. Since the year 1983, the importance of reducing the vessels’ GHG emission and the energy losses have come to the forefront [5]. Nevertheless, it was not until the year 2011, with the 62nd session of the IMO’s Maritime Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC), that the maritime industry committed to adopt mandatory measures to reduce GHG emissions from both new buildings and existing ships [6]. Since then, actions have been taken to identify and improve the shipboard energy performances, including but not limited to: hull shapes optimization, the integration of energy-saving devices, architectural optimization, adoption of lightweight structures and materials, as well as fuel efficiency improvement for ships in service and installation. Recently, with the advancement and prevalence of energy storage systems (ESSs), concrete measures have been taken to integrate ESSs into ships, leading to fully electrified or hybrid marine power system configurations [3,7]. Nevertheless, a monotype topology based on a Batteries 2023, 9, 250. https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9050250 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/batteries