High-speed ferry to have Echandia battery system
The Gotland Horizon X is due for delivery in mid-2028
(Source: Echandia)
A fast hybrid catamaran to be built by Australia’s Austal Limited is to have a battery system supplied by Echandia, a Swedish manufacturer of batteries for the shipping industry. The Gotland Horizon X, ordered by Visby-based Gotlandsbolaget, will be capable of operating at 29 knots, giving a transit time between Gotland and mainland Sweden of just over three hours.
The ferry will have capacity for up to 500 cars and 1,500 passengers. Its 780-kWh battery system will operate in hybrid mode in functions including peak shaving, load levelling, energy storage, and transfer. The system is designed for an operating life of 20 years.
Gotlandsbolaget’s head of Newbuildings, Jonas Moberg, commented: “This project highlights the strength of the Swedish maritime and technology ecosystem, where new technologies can be developed and become competitive in a global market. Gotland Horizon X builds on a long tradition of combining innovation with continuous fleet development. This led us to search for an energy storage system that is both safe and fully flexible, while also providing a long-lasting lifecycle. With Echandia’s battery system, we gain flexibility to continuously optimise operations as we learn from real-world use.”
The Gotland Horizon X is due for delivery in mid-2028.
