As part of the collaboration with Baltic Workboats, Danfoss Editron delivered the electric powerplant and propulsion system for the newbuild.
The lightweight electric powerplant is connected to the 12 battery-racks provided by Corvus batteries, which have a total capacity of 949 kWh. The batteries are currently charged at night via an on-shore charging station and can also be charged by diesel engines while the ferry is in operation.
As explained, this temporary solution will be replaced by automatic charging stations at the harbor once the infrastructure is ready.
In addition to controlling the ferry’s propulsion, the Editron load control system automatically supervises the powerplant and ensures that fuel consumption is optimized at all times, even when the ferry is not operating on fully-electric mode only.
When in hybrid-electric mode, the ferry will operate on a single genset, with the rest of the propulsion supported by battery power. The control system’s separation operation mode ensures that the ferry’s captain can easily choose the most appropriate operation mode and swiftly switch between them if necessary, Editron said.
Color Hybrid will almost double the capacity of M/S Bohus, which is scheduled to be phased out when the new ferry launches into operation.
Being a plug-in hybrid, Color Hybrid will be able to switch to batteries on parts of its journey. Ulstein says that the vessel would have very low noise levels in this mode and no no local harmful emissions. The batteries will be recharged via shore connection in Sandefjord, reports World Maritime News.
Vira Maritime