Generator replacement wins top marine award

A new British-built supercharged alternator, which can produce enough electrical power to replace a generator, won the top DAME award for marine equipment in November. Triskel Marine’s Integrel system is possibly the most promising alternative solution to power generation for cruising yachts.

Ten years of research and

US$10M investment has resulted in what is billed as ‘advanced generator replacement technology’. It uses the second alternator position on a conventional diesel inboard engine, which, together with permanent magnet technology and an intelligent system controller, is able to harness the significant amount of spare power an engine generates to charge a large battery bank.

Integrel is designed as a direct replacement or alternative to a standalone generator to meet all AC or DC power needs and allows for days of silent running. Once the full system is set up, it will automatically generate up to 9kw of electrical power without compromising the engine’s performance. The benefits over a traditional generator include reduced installation space and cost, virtually zero maintenance requirements, fuel savings, engine efficiencies and fully automatic operation.

After receiving the prestigious DAME award, commercial director Trevor Howard explained that this system can provide a cruising yacht with three to four days’ power before needing to recharge the battery bank. “We’ve replaced the generator with four passive lumps of lead – batteries – so there are no extra through hull fittings, or cooling systems etc,” he commented.

The DAME jury, of which Yachting World Editor Elaine Bunting is a member, commented on the Integrel system’s “ability to improve the environmental footprint of leisure boating today, its simplicity of operation providing long periods of quiet ship operation, and its potential to be further developed for a wide range of applications.”

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