PowerDocks helps improve environmental footprint of marine industry

CHARGED UP: PowerDocks has placed a 20-by-20-foot charging platform in Newport harbor. Using it with an eCraft boat are, from left, Rufus Van Gruisen, president of Cay Electronics Inc. and eCraft Yachts; Anthony Baro, managing partner of PowerDocks; and Chris Fagan, principal of PowerDocks. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

INNOVATIVE COMPANIES | ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

PowerDocks LLC, founded last year by Chris Fagan and Anthony Baro and located in Newport and Fall River, develops marine autonomous powered, docking platforms for customers worldwide, including its recently developed autonomous floating, micro-grid platform, Blue Isles.

Launched last June, this product is able to store, generate and distribute its own renewable energy via wireless charging docking stations and marine electrical-distribution outlets to power vessels in a harbor.

All this and more from a company of 10 people.

“Our marine-powered platform serves as a floating electrical utility to distribute on-site electrical power,” noted Baro, managing partner. “Our platform also offers integrated sensors, telecommunication and remote monitoring features connecting its users to the platform.”

Blue Isles can recharge on-site electric marine propulsion vessels; distribute power to recharge robotic vessels such as air drones, unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned surface vessels; and power on-site electrical equipment for aquaculture farming facilities, or water-quality and water-remediation treatment.

The Blue Isle Mooring buoy – which runs on solar power – offers the benefits of off-location Wi-Fi and no bilge pump outages through the integration of photovoltaic power, energy storage and battery-charging technologies. The Blue Isles Marinas, meanwhile, feature self-powered, floating docks and moorings, energy-sustainable floating villas, electric-vehicle and vessel charging, as well as remote-monitoring capabilities.

The effects of a floating micro grid are considerable, especially benefiting the environment and sustainability by increasing water quality, as well as lowering the cost of marine operations. Looking toward the future, Baro said PowerDocks wants to continue to reduce the operating cost of marine operations by “expanding the use of on-site, sustainable power generation … and preserve and expand the enjoyment of aquatics by leveraging the use of clean, sustainable forms of energy.”

Article by: The Providence Business News, credits to Staff Writer Jamie Lowe

Article originally published here: https://pbn.com/powerdocks-helps-improve-environmental-footprint-marine-industry/