Shift Clean Energy

What Shift Clean Energy does

Shift Clean Energy is a Vancouver-headquartered private company that designs and supplies lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (ESS) for marine, port, and heavy industrial applications. The company's technology stack rests on proprietary safety innovations — CellCool liquid cooling, Thermal-Stop thermal runaway prevention, E-Vent vapor management, and CellSwap/Cellswäp cell-level replacement — built around liquid-cooled, modular, stackable battery architecture managed by a per-cell battery management system (BMS). Shift has secured type approvals from at least nine classification and standards bodies, including DNV GL, ABS, Bureau Veritas, RINA, Lloyd's Register, Korean Register, ClassNK, the Indian Register of Shipping, and the Norwegian Maritime Authority, enabling deployment across most major maritime jurisdictions.

Shift monetizes through two principal streams: (1) sale, lease, or financing of fixed battery systems for fully electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid peak-shaving vessel configurations, and (2) the PwrSwäp pay-as-you-go subscription service in which Shift owns the swappable ePod battery cartridges and automated charging stations, eliminating customer CAPEX. Customers include ferry operators (Scandlines, FinFerries, ForSea, GRSE), tugboat and workboat operators (KOTUG, Vallianz), bunker and inland tanker operators (V-Bunkers/Vitol, GEFO), port authorities (Port of Singapore), and offshore wind support vessel operators. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales from Vancouver with a global network of regional offices and channel partners spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific.

The company was founded in 2009 by Brent Perry (originally as Corvus Energy), evolved through Plan B Energy Storage and Sterling PlanB Energy Solutions, rebranded as Shift in October 2021, and became majority-backed by Malaysia-based Yinson GreenTech following a November 2023 secondary share purchase. Shift is led operationally by President Geoff Davenport and supported by COO Mark Hughes (joined August 2022), CTO Chris Kruger, and CFO/Co-founder Paul Hughes, following founder Brent Perry's retirement from the CEO role in May 2023. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees, with operations across Vancouver, Copenhagen, and sales/agent offices in the UK, India, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the UAE, Germany, and the United States.

Name

Shift Clean Energy

Legal name

Shift Clean Energy

Website

https://shift-cleanenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shift Clean Energy designs and supplies lithium-ion battery energy storage systems for marine, port, and heavy industrial operators, offering fixed battery systems and a PwrSwäp pay-as-you-go swappable battery subscription. It serves ferry, tugboat, tanker, port, and offshore wind vessel operators globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Energy Storage Systems

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (33591)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stationary Energy Storage Systems (BESS/ESS Integrators) (IMAGAHAD), Energy Storage Software & Controls (EMS, monitoring, optimization, cybersecurity) (IMAGAHAJ), Thermal Management & Safety Systems (cooling, fire detection/suppression, venting) (IMAGAHAI)

Keywords

• Marine energy storage systems
• Lithium-ion battery solutions
• Vessel electrification services
• Energy-as-a-service subscription
• Containerized microgrid ESS

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. PwrSwäp Pay-As-You-Go Energy Subscription: Shift sells energy as a service via its PwrSwäp subscription model. Customers pay for energy consumed; Shift owns the batteries and charging infrastructure. The subscription eliminates commercial risk and product liability for customers. Shift finances the upfront investment for marine vessel electrification, customers pay for the energy used. No CAPEX required from customers.
2. Fixed Battery System Sales (Purchase or Lease): Sale or lease of fixed battery energy storage systems (ESS) to vessel operators for fully electric, plug-in hybrid, or hybrid peak-shaving configurations. Shift offers full financing options including lease-to-own and cost-sharing models where customers pay for the system out of usage and service.
3. Lifetime Performance Agreement: Shift offers Lifetime Performance Agreements covering ongoing battery system performance, maintenance, and support, providing long-term recurring revenue and customer retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Shift Clean Energy designs, manufactures and supplies modular, liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (ESS) for marine and heavy-industrial electrification, supported by a cloud-based battery management system. Its two commercial offerings are Fixed Battery Systems (sale or lease of ESS for ferries, workboats, tugboats, ports and superyachts) and PwrSwäp, a pay-as-you-go subscription service that delivers swappable ePod battery cartridges via automated swap stations, financed by Shift so the customer avoids upfront capital.

Product overview

Shift Clean Energy provides clean energy solutions based on leading-edge energy storage systems for marine and industrial applications. The core product portfolio consists of Fixed Battery Systems (modular, configurable ESS for vessels) and the PwrSwäp service (pay-as-you-go subscription with swappable ePod battery cartridges). Supporting technologies include CellCool liquid cooling, CellSwap/Cellswäp for cell replacement, and the CanPower Microgrid containerized solution. The company formerly operated as Sterling PlanB Energy Solutions (SPBES) and Plan B Energy Storage (PBES).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PwrSwäp: Pay-as-you-go clean energy subscription service delivering swappable battery cartridges for maritime and on-land applications
• ePod
• CanPower
• CellCool
• Cellswäp

Products and services

• Fixed Battery Systems Modular, stackable and configurable lithium-ion battery energy storage systems for marine vessels (ferries, workboats, tugboats, superyachts) and industrial sites, available with full-electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid peak-shaving configurations and sold, leased or financed through lease-to-own and cost-sharing models.
• PwrSwäp Pay-as-you-go energy-as-a-service subscription delivering swappable, cloud-connected ePod battery cartridges via automated PwrSwäp swap stations; Shift owns the batteries and charging infrastructure, removing customer CAPEX and technology risk for marine and on-land applications.
• ePod Swappable Battery Cartridges Fully charged, cloud-connected battery cartridges used inside the PwrSwäp ecosystem, exchanged for depleted units at automated swap stations so the on-board ESS is sized per trip rather than for the life of the vessel.
• CanPower Microgrid (containerized ESS) Self-contained containerized battery room that fits inside standard 20-53 ft shipping containers with liquid cooling; can charge in as little as six minutes and is used for ferries, port operations, remote community and industrial-site microgrids.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% reduction in vessel operating costs through full or hybrid electrification
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RINA, Lloyd's Register, Korean Register, ClassNKcoreTechnology or Integration · 5 December 2023Shift obtained full type approval certification from four major classification societies — RINA, Lloyd's Register, Korean Register, and ClassNK — demonstrating safety and compliance of its ESS for marine applications. Also received Type Approval from American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV), Indian Register of Shipping, and Norwegian Maritime Authority.
• GEFO Shipping GroupminorOthers · 20 June 2023Shift partnered with GEFO Shipping Group to deliver TMS Canaletto — a diesel-electric hybrid inland tanker. Shift worked with Gebhard Electro and Werkina Werkendam to fit 157.5 kWh of Shift's ESS, significantly reducing emissions.
• Ecomar Propulsion and Aluminium Marine ConsultantsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2023MoU signed to collaborate on a revolutionary retrofit package to electrify and transform existing crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and workboats in the UK.
• S&SYSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 June 2023Channel partner agreement with S&SYS to expand distribution of Shift's ESS in South Korea, an impactful step towards decarbonizing the marine industry in South Korea.
• V-BunkerscoreOthers · 25 April 2023Shift partnered with V-Bunkers (Vitol's Singaporean bunker operations company) to deliver Singapore's first hybrid bunker tanker, Marine Charge. Shift's 480 kWh liquid cooled ESS provides peak shaving capability, reducing GHG emissions by approximately 10% per year. Shift also partnered with Red Offshore for local support in Singapore.
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2023Shift Clean Energy partnered with GRSE to power its first fully electric ferry. Shift's ESS expected to reduce operational costs by 20-30 percent. GRSE is an Indian shipbuilding company. In November 2023, Shift, GRSE, Seatech, and ABS further collaborated on the E-VOLT 50 electric tug development.
• Ulstein Design & Solutions B.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2022Vallianz partnered with Ulstein, Shift, and Bureau Veritas to develop the first-of-its-kind hybrid heavy transport vessel (HTV) for offshore wind farms.
• SeaTech Solutions InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2022SeaTech Designs (SeaTech Solutions International Pte Ltd) serves as the vessel design partner for multiple Shift projects including Singapore's first hybrid bunker tankers (V-Bunkers), the E-Volt Electric Tug (with Vallianz and ABS), and the E-VOLT 50 electric tug (with GRSE). Singapore-based ship design firm with over 380 unique designs and 640 vessels operating worldwide.
• Vallianz HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2022Vallianz, Shift, SeaTech, and ABS teamed up to design and build the first environmentally-friendly all-electric tug in Asia Pacific. Vallianz's shipyard in Batam, Indonesia is constructing the e-tug based on SeaTech's E-Volt Electric Tug design with Shift's battery system.
• KOTUGcoreOthers · 16 February 2022KOTUG deployed KOTUG E-Pusher Type M and four barges for zero-emission cocoa bean transport between Port of Amsterdam and Zaandam. Vessel equipped with swappable battery energy containers from Shift as part of the PwrSwäp ecosystem.
• Bureau VeritascoreTechnology or Integration · 11 January 2022Bureau Veritas approved Shift's lithium-ion battery-based ESS as safe and effective for marine applications. Shift received second major certification from Bureau Veritas (BV), a world-leading testing, inspection, and certification organization.
• KokamcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 December 2021Shift and Kokam (a global provider of innovative lithium-ion battery solutions and subsidiary of SolarEdge Technologies Inc.) entered a long-term strategic partnership for the marine market. Kokam battery cells integrated into Shift's battery design deliver among the highest energy density available for commercial and industrial marine applications.
• Nave De LuzminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2021Shift and Nave De Luz (Portuguese installation partner) co-led a consortium selected to build Portugal's first zero-emission electric ferryboat in Aveiro. The project is the first electric ferryboat in Southern Europe.
• ORE CatapultminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2021Shift participated in UK Government's Operation Zero initiative, partnering with ORE Catapult (Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult) and providing PwrSwäp service to a zero-emissions wind power project in the North Sea.
• KOTUG InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2021Shift and KOTUG International signed MoU to combine Shift's PwrSwäp with KOTUG's E-Pusher vessel designs. KOTUG deploys E-Pusher vessels (e.g., Type M for cocoa bean transport from Port of Amsterdam) equipped with Shift's swappable battery containers for zero-emission operations.
• Goal Zero Consortium (Singapore)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2021Sterling PlanB (predecessor) part of the Goal Zero consortium selected by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to develop fully electric lighter craft vessels to decarbonize Singapore's harbourcraft industry.
• NYK Trading CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 May 2021Exclusive supply agreement for sales and distribution of Shift ESS in Japan. NYK Trading is the trading company of the NYK Group. Also listed as an agent/office on the contact page.
• Technology Ventures Middle East Marine ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 February 2021MENA sales and service partnership to expand access to Shift ESS solutions to customers in the Middle East, India, and Sri Lanka. Provides hybrid and fully electric propulsion and power solutions for marine customers in the region.
• Industrial Service Solutions (ISS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 December 2020Sales and service partnership for US industrial and marine customers. ISS has over 2,000 technicians and engineers distributed across America to provide local representation and technical support for Shift products in marine, oil and gas, and offshore markets.
• Daviddi MarineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 December 2020Sales and service partnership to provide Italian superyacht builders with local representation and technical support for Shift products. Focus on hybrid superyachts market in Italy.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Corvus Energy: Corvus Energy is the market-leading supplier of lithium-ion battery ESS for marine propulsion, hybridization, and port operations — Shift's primary direct competitor. Notably, Corvus was founded in 2009 by Brent Perry, the same founder who went on to lead Shift, making this the most direct head-to-head comparable in marine ESS.
• Echandia Marine: Echandia is a Swedish-headquartered developer of heavy-duty maritime energy storage systems based on lithium-ion technology, directly competing with Shift for ferry, workboat, and offshore vessel ESS contracts in Europe. Its commercial focus on safe, long-life marine battery systems makes it a direct competitor in the same tender processes.
• Leclanché: Leclanché is a Swiss manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells and systems for e-mobility, commercial vehicles, and marine applications. It sells its own marine ESS product line and competes with Shift in European hybrid and fully-electric vessel tenders.
• Saft (TotalEnergies): Saft, owned by TotalEnergies, manufactures industrial batteries including lithium-ion systems marketed for marine, rail, and ESS applications. Its scale, R&D resources, and TotalEnergies backing make it a comparable peer serving overlapping vessel and offshore customers with battery-based solutions.

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Maritime: Kongsberg Maritime is a large Norwegian systems integrator delivering hybrid and full-electric propulsion, energy storage, and control systems for commercial and naval vessels. It competes with Shift indirectly through integrated hybrid-electric packages that bundle batteries, power management, and propulsion — a broader offering than Shift's standalone ESS focus.
• ABB Marine & Ports: ABB supplies electric, hybrid, and automation systems for ships and ports, including battery-based propulsion and shore-power solutions. As a global incumbent with deep shipyard relationships, ABB is a competitor at the integrated propulsion system level where batteries sit inside a wider electric-power package.
• Wärtsilä Energy Storage: Wärtsilä is a major marine and energy technology company offering hybrid propulsion, ESS, and grid-scale energy storage. Its marine hybrid system offering competes with Shift in ferries and workboat tenders, while its grid-scale storage footprint represents a broader-incumbent strategic comparable.
• Fluence Energy: Fluence is a publicly-traded global leader in grid-scale battery energy storage systems and software, with a focus on utility-scale BESS rather than marine. It is comparable as a scaling stationary ESS integrator pursuing the 'energy-as-a-service' commercial model that mirrors Shift's PwrSwäp ambitions.
• BorgWarner (Akasol): BorgWarner acquired Akasol, a European manufacturer of high-energy battery systems for commercial vehicles, trains, and marine vessels. Its marine product line and cell-to-pack modular architecture make it a credible broad-incumbent comparable serving overlapping industrial and marine ESS use cases.

Emerging players

• EST-Floattech: EST-Floattech is a Dutch supplier of modular lithium-ion battery systems for maritime and offshore applications, including hybrid yachts, workboats, and offshore service vessels. As a smaller but established European competitor, it overlaps with Shift on modular marine ESS for niche vessel classes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/we_are_shift
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shift-cleanenergy

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shift Clean Energy