On 25 March 2026, the POSEIDON consortium met at CIEMAT (Madrid) to align partners on the final steps towards the project’s demonstration phase. The workshop focused on technical progress, integration planning, and preparation for the upcoming sea trials, marking an important milestone for the project.
Strong progress across key energy storage technologies
During the meeting, partners presented the latest developments in the three innovative Fast Response Energy Storage Systems (FRESS) being developed within POSEIDON:
- EESS (supercapacitor-based system) has successfully completed laboratory demonstrations and is moving towards integration with the grid converter.
- KESS (flywheel-based system) has advanced significantly, with final laboratory validation ongoing following repair of a vacuum component.
- SMES (superconducting magnetic system) has overcome a technical challenge through a redesigned mechanical solution, with new components currently being manufactured and tested.
These results confirm steady technical progress and reinforce confidence in the systems’ readiness for the next project phase.
Integration roadmap for the containerised demonstrator confirmed
A central objective of the workshop was to confirm the roadmap for integrating the different technologies into a containerised demonstrator, which will be installed onboard a vessel. The consortium confirmed the outsourcing of container integration to specialised company INSTEIMED, which will be responsible for mechanical and electrical integration, safety systems and preparation for onboard operation.
Integration activities are planned to take place between spring and summer 2026, followed by full system integration tests.
Preparation for sea trials progressing
Partners Baleària and TPH presented updates on vessel readiness and onboard preparations. The classification society Bureau Veritas is progressing with the approval process required to ensure safe installation and operation of the demonstrator on board. Several technical comments have already been addressed, bringing the project closer to final approval.
Sea trials are currently planned to be carried out from October to November 2026, once integration and onboard installation activities are completed.
Clear next steps for the final phase of the project
The consortium agreed on a set of priority actions for the coming months, including completion of laboratory tests, container integration, onboard installation, and development of operational procedures for sea trials. Risk mitigation measures and contingency plans were also discussed to ensure the project remains on track towards its final demonstration.
Moving closer to demostration
The CIEMAT workshop confirmed strong collaboration across partners and a shared commitment to successfully delivering the final demonstration of POSEIDON technologies.
With technical progress advancing and integration activities approaching, the project continues moving steadily towards validating innovative energy storage solutions for cleaner maritime transport.