European ferry operator Stena Line has signed a contract with Gothenburg-based Callenberg Technology Group to install batteries with a capacity of 1 MW/h on board the ropax ‘Stena Jutlandica’.
The 550 car, 1,500 pax ferry operates between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn, Denmark.
Battery use while the vessel is in port will become a reality before the summer, said Stena Line, However, the future target for battery operation is to be able to navigate the vessel for 50 nautical miles.
“Sustainability is very high on our agenda and we are constantly evaluating new ways to reduce our impact on the environment,” said Stena Line CEO, Niclas Mårtensson. “From 2015, for example, methanol is part of the fuel mix on ‘Stena Germanica’, which operates between Gothenburg and Kiel, and we also run around 300 different energy saving projects. 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.”
The three-phase battery project will be completed step by step. The first phase will see battery power used for bow thrusters and manoeuvring when berthing in port.
The second phase, which is expected to be completed in 2022, will extend battery operation to the propellers, enabling ‘Stena Jutlandica’ to operate on electricity within around 10 nautical miles, equal to the distance between Gothenburg and Vinga Lighthouse.
The third phase, which is expected to be completed in 2030, will expand the battery capacity to enable operation on electricity for about 50 nautical miles — the distance between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn.
If the project is successful, battery operation may also be applicable to other vessels in the Stena Line’s 38 vessel fleet.
The technical solutions are being developed together with Stena Teknik, which co-operates with the academic world, authorities and various suppliers.
