ABB to power world’s largest emission-free electric ferries

Firm will also deliver the first automated shoreside charging station to HH Ferries
ABB to power world’s largest emission-free electric ferries
An ABB industrial robot will pull the shore cable from the ferries when they get within 400mm of the port

By Rebecca Gibson |


ABB is to supply the complete power and propulsion systems for HH Ferries’ Tycho Brahe and Aurora, enabling them to become the world´s largest emission-free electric ferries.

Both Tycho Brahe and Aurora will be fitted with ABB batteries, energy storage control systems and Onboard DC Grid technology. This will enable them to operate solely with a combined battery power of 8,320 kWh on the 4km route between Helsingør in Denmark and Helsingborg, Sweden. The new battery solution will lower total emissions across the fleet by more than 50%.

ABB will also use its IRB 7600 technology, 3D laser scanning and wireless communication solutions to supply the first automated shore-side charging stations at the ferry terminals in both Helsingør and Helsingborg.

An ABB industrial robot will automatically reach out and pull the shore cable from the ferries when they get within 400mm of the port, moving the cable connectors to the corresponding connectors below the robot. After the connection is made, the robot will move back to the home position and the roll-up doors will close. This will optimise connection time and maximise the charging period.

“This order goes to the very core of what we do at ABB,” said Juha Koskela, managing director of ABB’s Marine and Ports business unit. “These are highly innovative solutions in line with our Next Level strategy, improving the efficiency while lowering the environmental impact. The ferry services across Scandinavia and the Nordic region are leading the world in terms of progressive environmentally friendly solutions. ABB is at the forefront of this revolution.”

Co-financed by INEA, the European Union’s executive agency for innovation, the project is part of HH Ferries’ strategy to actively safeguard the environment.

“In this context we are very pleased that we together with ABB and with proven technology and in an innovative way, have been able to create a new set up to retain our position as a highly efficient high capacity route,” said Henrik Rørbæk, CEO of HH Ferries Group. “From an environmental point, we invest responsibly in tomorrow’s technology solutions leading towards a greener future.”

Tycho Brahe and Aurora carry more than 7.4 Million passengers and 1.9 million vehicles annually.

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