ABB supplies drive and energy storage technology for Iceland’s first electrified ferry. The 70-meter vessel will be equipped with a 3,000 kWh battery pack and run in fully electric mode most of the time.

This means, the onboard diesel generator only serves as a backup for the electric ferry in particularly difficult weather conditions. Adverse weather, however, is of course not unlikely in the waters around Iceland and ABB says the new electric ferry will operate on an Icelandic route known for its stormy seas.

Delivery is set before the year’s end when the ferry will have a capacity of 550 passengers and 75 cars. The order has come through the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration, and they estimate their boat will take 3,600 annual trips in the rough waters between Landeyjahöfn on the mainland and the Westman Island, covering 13 km in about 45 minutes.

“Selection of ABB’s technologies for a vessel operating on such a tough route, where the water depth is sometimes limited to 4.5 meters, but wave heights can reach 3.5 meters, sets a new benchmark for battery power on board a ship,” said Juha Koskela, Managing Director, ABB Marine & Ports.

Apart from the back-up generator, the ABB system Onboard DC GridTM allows the batteries to connect directly to the DC link on shore to enable efficient charging and discharging. Crucial to the supporting infrastructure is the shore power connection to recharge the battery with a power of 2500kW while the ferry is in the dock. On average, it will take about 30 minutes to recharge on their system, says ABB.

The scope of the order also includes generators, transformers, switchboards, the Power and Energy Management System (PEMS) and the Energy Storage Control System (ESCS). In addition, the ferry will access the ABB network that allows remote equipment monitoring and data analytics to enable remote technical support, as well as predictive maintenance and planned interventions.

marinelog.com, abb.com