BC Ferries to use hybrid drives from Corvus
Corvus Energy has received a follow-up order from Damen Shipyards to supply battery systems for hybrid ferries again. The order comprises four ferries for the Canadian operator BC Ferries, which switch to be fully battery-powered in the future.
Two each of the new hybrid ferries of the type Damen Road Ferry 8117 E3 – BC Ferries calls them “Island Class” vessels – will replace an older, conventionally operated ferry in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The ferry operator is thus increasing passenger capacity while reducing emissions from the fleet. The new quartet will be delivered from 2022, with two ferries operating on the Campbell River – Quadra Island route and the other two on the Nanaimo Harbour – Gabriola Island route.
BC Ferries had already ordered two identical ships from Damen Shipyards some time ago. They arrived in British Columbia at the beginning of this year and are scheduled to enter service in mid 2020 on the Powell River – Texada Island route and on the Port McNeill – Alert Bay-Sointula Island route. Until appropriate charging systems are introduced, all six ferries will use a diesel-electric hybrid system on a transitional basis. However, the changeover to a purely battery electric drive is included in the calculations.
Corvus Energy’s Corvus Orca energy storage system is very useful in this respect, as it can operate in both hybrid and fully electric mode. According to the Norwegian-Canadian battery manufacturer, it is an “ideal solution for short-distance ferry projects”. Since the construction of the first zero-emission ferry called Ampere, Corvus’ battery systems have been selected for more than 60 hybrid and all-electric ferries worldwide. The Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1 alone has recently ordered ten ferries with Corvus storage systems on board in several stages.
Six months ago, Corvus Energy also announced a basic agreement with Aida Cruises on the use of battery systems on cruise ships. The cooperation resulted in a first concrete order shortly afterwards: Corvus Energy is to install a battery system with a capacity of 10 MWh on AIDAperla in the course of this year.
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