Electric hydrofoil ferries to use solar power
Candela P-12 is cutting energy usage by 80%, allowing long range and efficient charging from floating solar chargers
(Source: Candela)
Swedish hydrofoil technology company, Candela, and Singapore-based renewable energy company, Canoply Power, have teamed up to develop floating charging stations for electric hydrofoil ferries deployed in remote locations. The power will be generated with floating solar technology developed by Norway’s Ocean Sun.
The companies plans to develop a fossil-free transport system for remote coastal communities and island resorts to reduce their dependence on diesel generators. They plan to use Candela’s long-range P-12 electric ferries using power from the sun and battery storage technology. This will reduce the dependence on fossil fuels in many islands in the APAC region, the companies said, thereby cutting emissions.
Canoply Power will design microgrids based on Ocean Sun’s technology that captures solar energy on the water surface. This will then be used to fast-charge Candela’s P-12s. These vessels ‘fly’ above the water on computer-guided hydrofoils which use 80% less energy than conventional vessels. The ferries are the first long-range units of this type that are capable of sustaining high speeds.
Björn Antonsson, Candela’s Regional CEO for APAC, commented: “Fossil fuel dependency is the single biggest cost driver for remote island operators. By partnering with Canopy Power, we can offer a complete ecosystem. We aren’t just selling a boat; we are offering a way to turn sunlight into silent, luxurious high-speed transport that pays for itself through fuel savings.”
