The journey of a successful PM shaft generator sea trial

We’re pleased to announce the successful sea trials of our PMM1000M, PMM1500M and PMM2000M designs. These trials validate earlier design simulations and confirm safe cruising and reliable permanent magnet shaft generator operations. We carried out trials on the Grazyna Gesicka LNG carrier in cooperation with Botnia Engineering, the system integrator for the vessel. Efficient energy…

New ownership fuels the future for The Switch

On February 20, BEMAC Corporation and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. finalized their purchase of 100% of The Switch shares. The change promotes the business development and growth of The Switch through the extensive experience and network of our new owners. We at The Switch believe our united strengths make a powerful combination. We are excited…

Navigating Green Shipping Corridors

You may have heard about “green corridors” in shipping but be asking yourself, what are they? What is their purpose? Recognizing the need for climate action, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adapted a new strategy in 2023 to incorporate a net-zero emissions goal for all vessels by or around 2050. With a lifetime of…

The Switch: from just a good idea to today’s company

People always say that you have to look forward in order to succeed. Still, it’s sometimes good to look back as well to see where you’ve come from. Recently, I received a visit request from a group of people who wanted to know how The Switch got where we are today. So, I had to…

Maritime green transition gathers speed in 2023

In July of this year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) revised its strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping . The IMO’s new ambitious target is to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping by 2050. This is a big jump up from the initial target of a 50% GHG reduction by…

4 reasons our PM machines are the #1 choice for direct-drive shaft generators

We’re proud to announce that our permanent magnet (PM) machines lead the market for direct-drive shaft generators. Since 2015, more than 100 vessels have gone to sea with our technology and more than 270 shaft generator orders have been placed. Currently, we deliver tens of machines annually to shipyards via our system integrator customers. What…

Ultrafast protection is key to very large marine battery systems

Incat Tasmania’s new Ro-Pax ferry is a big step forward in the development of all-electric vessels! Powered by the largest energy storage system of any vessel to date, the lightweight catamaran ferry also breaks ground with a number of other firsts when delivered in 2025: “The vessel redefines the future of ferry operations worldwide and…

Big effort to redefine rotating machinery

In 2020, we launched our SRS standalone high-speed machine and the “no gear” marketing campaign. We wanted to show customers who need high rotational speed that we provide an attractive possibility to remove the complicated, low-efficiency and expensive mechanical gear from their systems. Now in 2023, there seems to be push for even further with…

Energy house: testing today’s marine solutions with tomorrow’s fuels

Finding the best alternative fuel source and the best delivery method continues to be an urgent need for the marine world. At Energy House on the west coast of Norway, researchers and systems integrators are speeding the marine energy transition. Energy House is the largest, most comprehensive marine energy testing center in the world. It…

How to successfully commission permanent magnet machines for marine vessels

Commissioning the permanent magnet (PM) machine for a marine vessel’s power distribution or propulsion system is the last – yet still crucial – step in a long, complex process. There’s no room for error and little tolerance for delays. Mechanical and electrical interfaces must match. We at Yaskawa Environmental Energy / The Switch are invested…

Important considerations for the design of industrial high-temperature heat pumps

Why high-temperature heat pumps? Industrial process heat requirements drive global energy demands, accounting for 29% of demand and 15% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. High-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) have the potential to capture industrial waste heat and significantly reduce industrial energy use and CO2 emissions. The International…