On Thursday, Swiss-listed battery storage and energy infrastructure firm Leclanché announced a breakthrough deal in its marine electrification strategy. The firm has a deal in Canada with Dutch-headquartered Damen Shipyards, which owns and operates more than 50 global shipyards, to integrate its ports and harbor infrastructure solution, which enables hybrid and fully electric vessels to fast charge when returning to port.
Leclanché will build and provide two fast charge electric ferry stations, and supporting electrical storage systems, on Canada’s Lake Ontario, to be installed next year in support of two eFerries that Damen has built for Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation . Both electric vessels are powered by Leclanché’s Marine Rack System (MRS), certified by Bureau Veritas, under prior contracts with Leclanché’s e-Marine group.
The pair of eFerries–the 1.9 MWh Amherst Islander II and 4.6 MWh Wolfe Islander IV, successfully completed sea trials on the Black Sea in April and May of this year, and are scheduled to be transported to Canada by a specialized semi-submersible vessel starting in August.
Calling the all-electric ferries “a first of its kind for North America and a breakthrough in sustainability, Damen Americas Director Leo Postma said, “This partnership is consistent with our goal of being the world’s most sustainable shipbuilder. Extending our partnership for the on-shore fast charge and electrical storage systems is a natural outgrowth of our business relationship and consistent with our pioneering role in the maritime energy transition. It also provides many benefits to Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation.
“We’ve all observed the growing pains of the global electric automotive industry and the barriers to mass adoption caused by the lack of public and universal recharging infrastructure,” said Leclanché CEO Anil Srivastava. “You can’t have eFerries or electric trains, buses, trucks or other modes of transportation displace fossil-fueled modes of transportation without a reliable, cost-effective and energy efficient infrastructure in place. Our new zero emission ports and harbors solution architecture will make it easier for ship designers and port authorities to design, build and welcome to their shores the latest generation of sustainable vessels.
“For those portside regions unable to install a fixed energy storage system on shore, we are already considering a mobile charging station option – essentially a floating e-Barge with a fast-charge storage system onboard – that will enable a ferry to power-up in port without burdening the local infrastructure.”
Crossing time between ports will be just 20 minutes and Leclanché’s high power, DC-to-DC fast charging system will enable the eFerries to “refuel” in just 10 minutes at each port – well within the time it takes for the vessel to discharge passengers and vehicles and reload. The batteries have been designed to charge each vessel up to 7,850 times per year or more than 78,500 times over their projected 10-year lifespan – ensuring 21 hours of duty daily regardless of weather.
“Our continuing partnership with Damen is bringing several firsts to market including the first fully electric passenger and car ferries in North America and the first time two of our business units have collaborated to create an end-to-end solution for a key customer. Now, thanks to our e-Marine and Stationary Solutions teams, passengers will be able to embark on a vessel powered by Leclanché technology onboard and recharged on shore – with the added benefit of our electrical storage systems providing stability to the local power grid,” Leclanché’s Srivistava said.
