About the ZeFF ship concept (Zero Emission Express boat)
Express boats account for 1% of all petroleum combustion in Norway. Based on leading Norwegian maritime expertise and technology, the use of fossil fuels, like Norwegian ferries, will be reduced to zero emissions in the coming decade. The industrial players behind the ZeFF concept have been working on this for a year, and with a major grant from PilotE, this development work will now accelerate.
Over the next year, the players will develop, improve, quality assure and obtain approval for all parts of this new development in 2019, so that the vessels can be offered in the market from 2020 onwards.
The ship concept is based on using foil systems that lift the hull out of the water when it gets up to speed, as well as the development of a tailor-made zero-emission system using batteries and/or fuel cells on board.
The new type of high-speed vessels that will operate on the coast will have the following characteristics:
– Will be able to sail between 25 and 45 knots
– Will have foils that lift the vessel out of the water to reduce hull resistance
– Will sail without CO2, NOX and SOX emissions. The energy for propulsion will come from grid power via batteries, or from power produced by fuel cells on board that run on hydrogen or other fuels.
– The vessel will have approximately 30% less energy consumption than today’s vessel per passenger-km
– Will vary in size and passenger capacity to carry from 100 to 300 passengers
The ZeFF concept is an uncompromising design that combines existing and new technology to achieve an energy-efficient and customer-friendly zero-emission solution. As a minimum, the express boats of the future must be able to go as fast and keep the same timetable as today’s solution. In addition, it will offer better passenger comfort with reduced movement and lower noise levels.
– The ZeFF concept will be made available in a pure battery version and a hydrogen version. Battery operation is basically the most affordable and energy-efficient solution, and will be offered where range requirements and terminal time allow this. Hydrogen is the range extender that ensures that the ZeFF concept can be offered to all express boat services in Norway based on the same timetable or better than what today’s vessels operate on.
– The project is made up of actors who possess relevant and holistic expertise for the development of a zero-emission express boat concept, and recognizes the challenges that must be overcome to achieve success. Technology for zero-emission solutions is inherently more weight- and volume-intensive than today’s fossil fuel technology. Therefore, all project participants and all the vessel’s systems will work diligently on weight-reducing measures. However, zero-emission technology also has favorable properties that will be exploited in the ZeFF concept, such as instantaneously available power, the possibility of high short-term overload, optimal placement of the propulsor, low temperatures, low noise levels, etc.
The industry players behind the ZEFF concept
Hyon AS Hydrogen system integrator of tanks, fuel cells and electrolyzers.
LMG Marin AS Ship designer, specializing in concept development, express boats, and integration
of zero-emission systems on board.
Servogear AS Supplier of propulsion systems for express boats.
Norled AS Shipping company and operator of express boats. Built the world’s first electric ferry MF Ampere and has
many similar electric ferries under construction, and has just been awarded the contract for
the world’s first hydrogen ferry.
Selfa Arctic AS leads the consortium. In addition, battery concept, foils and structures in composite.
Norled looks forward to the development work
“We have built the world’s first electric ferry and have been awarded the contract for the world’s first hydrogen ferry. As the leading express boat company in Norway, and the world’s fifth largest express boat operator, this will be a necessary and important step for us to take also in the express boat sector”, says Sigvald Brevik, Technical Director of Norled.
About PilotE
Is a collaboration between the Research Council of Norway, Innovation Norway and Enova. In this round, NOK 110 million is awarded to 6 projects within technology development in the maritime sector.
For more information:
Technical Director Sigvald Breivik, mobile 9902 6237 or Deputy CEO Lars Jakob Engelsen, mobile 9579 6917.
