ZEM
ZEM is a Norway-based Volvo Penta subsidiary that designs and delivers turn-key electric and hybrid driveline systems for marine vessels, serving workboat, ferry, aquaculture, and energy storage operators worldwide through project-based engineering and integration contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersHøvik, Norway
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ZEM does
ZEM AS is a Norway-based, privately held system integrator that designs and delivers turn-key electric and hybrid drivelines for marine vessels. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Høvik, Norway, the company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volvo Penta within the Volvo Group, positioning itself as the marine electrification and hybridization arm of its parent. Since its first commercial installation in 2015, ZEM has delivered 114 driveline systems representing 63 MW of installed battery capacity and claims zero safety events across that installed base.
The company's core offering is the ZEM Integrated Platform, which combines battery storage, power electronics, and propulsion control into a single, field-proven architecture tailored to individual vessel requirements. Around this platform, ZEM has developed application-specific driveline variants for marine workboats, high-speed passenger ferries, and aquaculture feed barges, as well as the ZEM e-BOX — a modular, portable energy storage product targeting both marine and land-based grid applications. The technology is differentiated by integration and configurability rather than by underlying cell-level innovation; ZEM's role is to specify, engineer, and commission a validated system architecture for each vessel.
ZEM generates revenue through project-based hardware sales (integrated driveline systems) bundled with professional services spanning concept development, detailed engineering, components delivery, installation oversight, commissioning, and post-sales support. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales, led by Erik Skaarnæs, targeting maritime operators across multiple segments — workboats, ferries, aquaculture, and energy storage / grid — with consultative, project-based pricing that is not publicly disclosed. The company sells globally under Volvo Penta's distribution and service umbrella, with named reference customers including Moen Marin and Scale AQ.
ZEM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ZEM
- Legal name
- ZEM AS
- Website
- https://zemenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ZEM is a Norway-based Volvo Penta subsidiary that designs and delivers turn-key electric and hybrid driveline systems for marine vessels, serving workboat, ferry, aquaculture, and energy storage operators worldwide through project-based engineering and integration contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ZEM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Electric Propulsion Systems
- NAICS
- Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Ship and Boat Building (33661)
- SIC
- Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Hybrid & Electric Propulsion Systems (IMAJAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Integrated Marine Electrical Systems & Switchboards (IMAJAJAA), Electrical Engineering & Power Distribution (Generation, Switchboards, Cabling, Lighting) (IMAJAGAF), Energy Storage Systems for Marine (Batteries, supercapacitors) (IMAJAHAJ), Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where ZEM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Høvik
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ZEM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Marine Driveline Systems: Sale and integration of complete electric and hybrid driveline systems for marine vessels. The company designs, engineers, and delivers turn-key solutions including battery systems, power electronics, and propulsion components. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with maritime operators.
- Engineering and Integration Services: Professional services including concept development, detailed engineering, installation oversight, commissioning, and post-sales support. Services are bundled with system sales as part of turn-key project delivery.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
ZEM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZEM designs, engineers, and delivers turn-key electric and hybrid marine driveline systems that integrate batteries, power electronics, and propulsion controls into ready-to-deploy solutions for commercial vessels. The company bundles detailed engineering, installation oversight, and commissioning services with each delivered system, and extends its battery technology into portable energy storage via the ZEM e-BOX. All solutions are tailored to vessel specifications and packaged for maritime operators seeking zero-emission or reduced-emission operations.
Product overview
ZEM is a turn-key system integrator of marine electric and hybrid drivelines, offering the ZEM Integrated Platform as its core product along with the ZEM e-BOX portable energy storage system. The portfolio includes specialized applications for marine workboats, high-speed ferries, feed barges, and electrical energy storage/grid systems. All solutions are designed to be field-proven and tailored to customer requirements, with 114 systems and 63 MW of battery capacity installed globally since 2015.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ZEM Integrated Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 63 MW of battery capacity installed across 114 systems
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ZEM
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ZEM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ZEM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Volvo PentaflagshipZEM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volvo Penta, which is itself part of the Volvo Group. This corporate relationship provides ZEM with access to Volvo's established marine propulsion technology, manufacturing capabilities, and global service network. ZEM operates as the marine electric and hybrid driveline integration arm within the Volvo Group ecosystem.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
ZEM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ZEM social profiles
Digital presenceZEM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ZEM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
ZEM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ZEM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ZEM
What does ZEM do?
ZEM designs, engineers, and delivers turn-key electric and hybrid marine driveline systems that integrate batteries, power electronics, and propulsion controls into ready-to-deploy solutions for commercial vessels. The company bundles detailed engineering, installation oversight, and commissioning services with each delivered system, and extends its battery technology into portable energy storage via the ZEM e-BOX. All solutions are tailored to vessel specifications and packaged for maritime operators seeking zero-emission or reduced-emission operations.
Is ZEM a public or private company?
ZEM is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was ZEM founded?
ZEM was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ZEM based?
ZEM is headquartered in Høvik, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does ZEM make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Marine Driveline Systems are the primary driver. The others are engineering and Integration Services.
Does ZEM have an API?
No public API is recorded for ZEM.
What industry is ZEM in?
ZEM's product category is Marine Electric Propulsion Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAHAC, Marine Hybrid & Electric Propulsion Systems, with a secondary code of IMAJAJAA, Integrated Marine Electrical Systems & Switchboards. Its NAICS code is 335313 and its SIC code is 3613.