Three-step project to promote battery use on ferries

The aim is to be able to deploy ferries in the future that are capable of navigating for 50 nautical miles using batteries as a source of power.
“Sustainability is very high on our agenda,” declared Stena Line CEO, Niclas Mårtensson, “and we are constantly evaluating new ways to reduce our impact on the environment. As both the size and cost of batteries decrease, battery operation becomes a very exciting alternative to traditional fuels for shipping, as emissions to air can be completely eliminated.”  
In the first stage, a battery with a capacity 1 MWh will be installed on the 182m-long Stena Jutlandica which operates on the route between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn. Battery power will be used for the 1996-built ferry’s bow thrusters during manoeuvring operations in port. A capacity of 1 MWh will optimise power usage and provide scope for peak shaving.
The second step will involve connecting batteries to the propellers so that the vessel will be able to sail, using electricity, for about 10 nautical miles. This is approximately equivalent to the distance from Gothenburg to Vinga Lighthouse and will require battery capacity of around 20 MWh.    
In phase three, battery capacity will be increased significantly – to 50 MWh – enabling the vessel to use electricity throughout the 50-nautical mile voyage between the two ports. Stena Line says that if the project is successful, battery power is likely to be introduced on other ferries within the company’s 38-ship fleet.
During all three stages of the project, batteries will be charged while the ship is connected to shore power because this is a cleaner way of generating electricity. However, if necessary, battery charging can also be undertaken by using the ship’s generators.   
The company’s technical division, Stena Teknik, will be closely involved in the project and will cooperate with the academic world, authorities and various suppliers, according to a recent statement. The initiative has been received positively, and half of the first phase is being supported and financed by the Swedish Maritime Administration and the EU.