AYK Energy secures record marine battery retrofit deal with Wasaline
Wasaline’s hybrid-electric ferry Aurora Botnia (Source: AYK Energy)
Marine battery specialist AYK Energy will supply a 10.4-MWh battery system for Wasaline’s hybrid-electric ferry Aurora Botnia, in its largest ever retrofit contract. The upgrade, set to be completed later this year, will take place at Turku Repair Yard in Finland.
The new system will be nearly five times larger than the ferry’s existing 2.2-MWh batteries and is expected to cut emissions by almost 25% on its daily Vaasa-Umeå route, contributing to Wasaline’s goal of carbon-neutral operations by 2030.
AYK’s Pisces+ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, known for safety and longevity, will replace the current system, helping reduce fossil fuel usage by 10,000 MWh annually. The installation will surpass the previous largest retrofit on the AIDAPrima by 500 kWh.
“The transition to electric and hybrid vessels is accelerating, and the AYK/Wasaline partnership is an excellent example of how working together strategically can make the change happen,” said Chris Kruger, AYK founder.
The lithium-iron-phosphate batteries will be manufactured at AYK’s automated plant in Zhuhai, China. The contract follows several major deals, including installations on Brittany Ferries’ new hybrid ships and the world’s first battery-methanol tug for Svitzer.
