Swiss-based electronics company Leclanché has been selected to supply battery technology for two hybrid ferries being built for Scotland’s Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) at CEMRE shipyard in Turkey.
elkon, part of the Schottel Group, a marine electrical systems integrator based in Istanbul, awarded Leclanché the contract for two patented Navius MRS-3 1.1 MWh capacity battery storage systems.
The ferries are being built by CEMRE shipyards – the same yard, which is constructing the Scandlines PR24 project, also using Leclanché’s battery technology.
The 95 m long diesel/hybrid propulsion vessels, scheduled for completion in 2024 and 2025, will serve Islay and Jura, the most southerly of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides islands. The sailing time between the two ports is just over two hours.
Leclanché’s lithium-ion batteries will enable the vessels to enter the ports quietly and carbon free.
Each vessel will have a capacity of 275 lane meters for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on the main deck and for 107 cars on both their main and hoistable decks.
“Leclanché has developed a well-deserved reputation for the quality of its marine battery systems and the safety of its liquidcooled system architecture – both critical considerations for this important pair of CMAL projects,”said Özgür Arslancan, elkon’s Technology Director.
“We have been also very happy with the company’s accurate simulation that enabled to size the battery, its cooling system and to optimise the operation condition for a 10 year continuous service period,” he said.
“Our Navius MRS-3 has become an industry standard for high performance, de-carbonised marine vessels,” added Phil Broad, CEO, Leclanché e-Mobility.
“We’re excited by the large number of shipyards, vessel owners and integrators who have approached us during their design cycle and specification phase to better understand our approach to battery manufacturing.
“They are especially interested in the undeniable benefits of liquid cooling for longer life cycle, low maintenance and the reduced footprint of MRS-3,” he said.
