By
Rebecca Gibson |
Callenberg Technology Group is to retrofit one of Stena Line’s car and passenger ferries with environmentally friendly batteries as part of the European ferry operator’s ongoing sustainability strategy.
Stena Jutlandica, which operates between Gothenburg, Sweden and Frederikshavn in Denmark, will be fitted with a 1MWh battery during a three-step project.
First, Stena will switch to battery power for bow thrusters and manoeuvring when Stena Jutlandica berths in port, which should happen this summer. The second step will be to connect the battery propulsion to the ferry’s propellers, enabling her to operate on electricity for around 10 nautical miles. Finally, battery capacity will be further expanded to enable Stena Jutlandica to use electric battery power to travel around 50 nautical miles – the distance between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn.
This gradual roll out will enable Stena Line to test procedures and gather data and knowledge about the future potential use of electrical power. If this project is successful, battery operation may also be applicable to other ferries within Stena Line’s fleet of 38 vessels.
“Sustainability is very high on our agenda and we are constantly evaluating new ways to reduce our impact on the environment,” said Niclas Mårtensson, Stena Line CEO. “From 2015, for example, methanol has been part of the fuel mix on the Stena Germanica, which operates between Gothenburg and Kiel, and we also run around 300 different energy-saving projects to help us achieve our goal. As both the size and cost of batteries decreases, battery operation is becoming a very exciting alternative to traditional fuels for shipping, with the added prospect of emissions to the air being completely eliminated.”
The technical solutions are being developed in partnership with Stena Teknik, which works with o work collaboratively with academia, government and a range of key strategic suppliers. The project has already received a lot of positive feedback, and the first phase is being supported and co-funded by the Swedish Maritime Administration and the EUEuropean Union.