Increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve energy efficiency is driving significant changes in ship power system design and operation. Advanced modeling and simulation tools are increasingly used to support the evaluation and integration of propulsion and energy technologies across both newbuildings and existing fleets.
This presentation discusses how energy system modeling can support the optimization of ship power systems by capturing the interaction between propulsion, onboard power generation, and vessel operational modes. A system-level modeling framework will be presented, illustrating how these models can inform decisions for power system optimization and the evaluation of retrofit solutions across fleets. An industrial case study of a deep-sea vessel, including shaft generator and controllable pitch propeller (CPP) interaction, will highlight how different operational scenarios affect energy flows and system efficiency.
Nikolaos Aletras,
Senior Engineer – Marine Energy Systems
CLEOS
About the Speaker
Nikolaos Aletras is a Mechanical Engineer with a PhD specializing in energy optimization and advanced modeling of marine propulsion and power systems. He earned his doctorate at the Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His work focuses on evaluating and developing technologies that support the decarbonization of the maritime sector, with expertise in hybrid propulsion, supervisory control strategies, and CO₂ reduction methodologies. He has collaborated with leading industrial and research partners, including the European Commission Joint Research Centre and WinGD, contributing to European R&D initiatives in clean and efficient propulsion technologies.
Nikolaos is currently Senior Engineer – Marine Energy Systems at CLEOS, where he develops and simulates ship system models using GT-SUITE and other advanced tools to assess emerging marine technologies from component to vessel level. His work supports performance analysis, technology benchmarking, and the integration of innovative solutions across vessel fleets.
