ABB powers award-winning hybrid ferry with its Onboard DC Grid

ABB is continuing its development and innovation around energy storage solutions after the Vision of The Fjords was crowned ‘Ship of the Year’ by a panel of maritime experts. The hybrid ferry is powered by ABB’s Onboard DC Grid which facilitates the charging of the vessel’s batteries at shore and by its diesel engines.

The award was presented to the owners, The Fjords DA, and the shipyard Brødrene Aa at SMM in Hamburg by Nordic maritime publication Skipsrevyen. 

“Vision of The Fjords demonstrates how energy storage is a viable solution for ferries and we would like to congratulate both The Fjords DA and Brødrene Aa on their award,” said Jorulf Nergard, Head of Short Sea Shipping at ABB. “The Onboard DC Grid is making hybrid and battery power ferries possible across Scandinavia.”

The vessel couples innovative aesthetic design with cutting edge technology, meaning it can run silently on battery power during much of its voyage on the UNESCO listed Nærøyfjord in Norway. Rolf Sandvik, CEO of The Fjords DA, said “Vision of The Fjords supersedes everything else on these iconic Norwegian waterways.”

The Onboard DC Grid is a key enabler in efficiently integrating energy storage into modern marine power systems through its DC infrastructure and integrated power and energy management system. The role of energy storage does not have to be limited to the passenger segment; when used as part of a peak shaving process it can take the stress off engines during periods of dynamic power demand. It can also power vessels as they enter a harbour to adhere to local emission rules.

“We have had a strong focus on innovation and development of energy storage solutions and we will see it applied across vessel types including tug boats, complex offshore ships as well as the passenger segment,” said Juha Koskela, Managing Director of ABB’s Marine and Ports business. 

ABB is a leading global technology company in power and automation that enables utility, industry, and transport & infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.

Brødrene Aa is a world leader in the construction of fast ferries made of carbon fibre composites. The shipyard is located in Hyen on the west coast of Norway and employs 110 skilled workers. It is known for pioneering the use of composite materials for fast ferry applications, first with fibreglass composites in the 1970s and today with carbon fibre composites.

The Fjords DA owns Fjord1 AS and Flåm AS. Fjord1 AS is the largest ferry in company in Norway with operations from Rogaland in the south to Finnmark in the north. Flåm AS is a subsidiary of Aurland Ressursutvikling and has been working for 15 years in transforming Flåm into a worldclass tourist destination. The Fjords DA operates tourist ferries on the Nærøyfjord, Geirangerfjord and Lysefjord.