ABB electrification of world’s largest emission-free ferries shortlisted for maritime award
ABB has been shortlisted for a prestigious maritime award for modernizing two vessels that will become the largest emission-free ferries in the world. ABB received the nomination in ‘The Energy Efficiency Solution Award’ category of the 2016 Ship Efficiency Awards for its work on Tycho Brahe and Aurora.
ABB will supply the complete power and propulsion systems for the two HH Ferries Group vessels, which willbecome the world´s largest emission-free electric ferries. The modernizations utilize turnkey ABB solutions including batteries, an energy storage control system and Onboard DC Grid technology. At both ends of the route ABB will supply the first automated shore-side charging stations using an ABB industrial robot, to optimize the connection time and therefore maximize the charging period.
“We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Ship Efficiency Award. We are providing innovative turnkey solutions that will help HH Ferries run its operations efficiently while at the same time cutting the environmental impact of the vessels,” said Marcus Högblom, Vice President of Global Sales, Passenger vessels and Azipod propulsion.
“We are very pleased that, together with ABB and in an innovative way, we have been able to create a new set up to retain our position as a highly efficient high capacity route,” says CEO Henrik Rørbæk, HH Ferries Group. “We invest responsibly in tomorrow’s technology solutions, leading towards a greener future to the benefit of our customers and the environment.”
Preparatory work has already begun on the two HH Ferries’ vessels whilst construction of the groundbreaking automated shore-side charging arm is also underway in Finland.
The two ferries will operate completely on battery power between Helsingør (Denmark) and Helsingborg (Sweden), a distance of approximately 4 km carrying more than 7.4 Million passengers and 1.8 million vehicles annually. The new battery solution will help lower total emissions across the fleet by more than 50 percent from the current four diesel operated vessels. The combined battery power of 8,320 kWh for the two ferries is the equivalent of 10,700 car batteries.
The SEK 300 million investment is co-financed with SEK 120 million by INEA, the EU’s executive agency for innovation and network.
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.
HH Ferries Group owns the ferry route between Helsingborg and Helsingør, which is marketed under the trademark Scandlines Helsingborg-Helsingør. With departures every fifteen minutes and a travel time of 20 minutes, Scandlines Helsingborg-Helsingør fleet of four ferries transports up to 50,000 passengers and 9,000 cars as well as 1,600 buses and trucks across Øresund on a daily basis. HH Ferries does 50,000 single trips per year. In total, a distance equal to approximately five times around the globe.
