By
Kasturi Datta |
Energy provider Corvus Energy will supply Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries with 40 megawatt-hour (MWh) of installed battery capacity to power four new hybrid-electric ferries.
Corvus’ power and propulsion package, Corvus Dolphin NxtGen Power system, will integrate with its battery energy storage systems and deliver 10MWh of power to each of the vessels which will make up BC Ferries’ new Summit class fleet.
Each ferry will accommodate 2,100 passengers and up to 360 vehicles. The vessels, designed in collaboration with LMG Marin, will include diesel-battery hybrid propulsion and will be compatibile with biofuel or renewable diesel to support the transition to fully-electric operations in the future.
The energy provider will also supply battery interface bases and pack control systems, providing an additional 60MWh of battery capacity to enable up to two hours of emission-free sailing.
“We are delighted to be selected again by BC Ferries for this flagship project,” said Fredrik Witte, CEO of Corvus Energy. “Our Dolphin NxtGen technology brings the next leap in performance and safety, enabling these vessels to operate efficiently today while paving the way for a fully electric future.”
The first vessel will be built at the China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Group Weihai Shipyard in China and is expected to be delivered by 2029. All four ferries are expected to enter service by 2031.
“BC Ferries is looking towards the future of what passenger ferry transport can be for the people, businesses and communities that rely on our ferries every day,” said Ed Hooper, head of fleet renewal at BC Ferries. “Our challenge today is an aging fleet, most notably impacting our major routes. When the new Summit Class vessels begin to arrive in 2029, we will be adding more capacity and building better reliability into the way we do business. These vessels will have a long lifespan and working with dependable, long-term partners like Corvus Energy who have a local BC presence and proven ability to support the full system lifecycle, is key to our fleet renewal journey.”