Battery-powered propulsion offers a promising route toward climate-neutral maritime 
transport. However, the low energy density of alternative energy sources such as batteries—compared to conventional diesel—significantly limits the total available onboard energy.
Ensuring the viability of battery-powered shipping requires more than estimating average energy consumption; it also demands a thorough understanding of how energy use fluctuates under varying environmental conditions, particularly weather-induced factors. To guarantee voyage safety, ships must carry sufficient energy reserves to accommodate these fluctuations and maintain operational 
reliability.
This dissertation investigates the influence of environmental conditions on energy consumption through empirical testing. Experiments in a lake under real but uncontrolled conditions with a scale model ship will be conducted, during which wave height and ship motion are measured.
The resulting dataset will undergo statistical analysis to quantify the additional energy required under different sea states. These insights aim to inform energy reserve strategies for batterypowered vessels, supporting safe and efficient maritime operations.