-“We strongly believe that the battery swap solution can speed up the conversion of express boats from diesel to electric operation. The ferry fleet in Norway is well on the way to being electrified, but the express boats remain. “We need a greater pace in the development of express boats because the CO2 footprint is not sustainable. Norled is now ready to take the step of electrifying the express boats, says CEO of Norled, Heidi Wolden.
The battery-swapping technology involves an autonomous robot replacing the vessel’s battery in three minutes when it arrives at the quay, instead of recharging, which can take a long time.
By swapping batteries instead of charging, there is usually no need to expand grid capacity at the quays. The batteries can be charged steadily in the battery exchange station, resulting in a more even load on the power grid.
The system must be able to withstand Norwegian weather conditions such as tides, wind, waves and ice. The battery exchange robot can be placed on a fixed quay or floating jetty. The battery exchange solution is patent pending.
High speed and regularity
By using a limited battery capacity with less weight, the vessels’ energy consumption is reduced and makes it possible to maintain the high speed that express boats have today of between 30-35 knots.
Quickly changing the battery instead of charging it will also ensure frequent departures,” explains Norled’s technical director, Erlend Hovland.
Speed and regularity are necessary to deliver the service that passengers want. The solution can be used in several parts of the country where express boats currently operate, or where it is possible to use the sea instead of the road network. One example is the Oslofjord.
Circular economy solution
The battery replacement solution can be used on new express boats as well as existing express boats.
-“It’s entirely possible to convert newer express boats so that they can run on batteries. In this way, we can reuse large parts of the existing express boats in Norway,” says Erlend Hovland.
Vessels operating on the same route or using the same quay can also easily share batteries. This will reduce the need for the total number of batteries used.
Can be realized by 2024
– Norled is ready to put the technology into operation if our customers want low- and zero-emission solutions for their express boats. The first boats with battery replacement can probably be ready by 2024,” says Heidi Wolden.
The innovation project has received funding from PILOT-E, a funding scheme for Norwegian businesses established by the Research Council, Innovation Norway and Enova. The aim of the scheme is to accelerate the development and deployment of new products and services in the field of environmentally friendly energy technology in order to contribute to emission reductions both in Norway and internationally.
-“We have had a good dialog and good cooperation with PILOT-E. It would not have been possible to run the project without their support,” says Karolina Adolfsson, Innovation Manager at Norled.
