(BERGEN, Norway and SEATTLE) — Corvus Energy has been selected by ABB’s Marine & Ports Division to supply battery energy storage systems (ESS) for two new hybrid electric ferries for Washington State Ferries (WSF). The contract also includes an option for a third vessel.
Washington State Ferries manages the largest ferry system in the United States, operating 21 auto-passenger ferries across 10 routes serving 19 terminals. The two new hybrid electric ferries will be the first of up to 16 new vessels delivered as part of WSF’s $3.98 billion ferry system electrification plan. The project is anticipated to be the largest investment in maritime electrification and the largest ferry electrification project in the United States to date, an important milestone for U.S. marine emissions reduction efforts.
The new 1,500-passenger and 160-vehicle capacity ferries will play a crucial role in WSF’s strategy to modernize its fleet and reduce its environmental footprint.
The hybrid ferries, equipped with both an energy storage system and diesel-powered generators, will be designed to operate using battery power alone, as access to sufficient onshore charging capacity allows. An environmentally friendly configuration, fully battery-powered operations produce zero emissions and require zero fuel.
With the new hybrid ferries, WSF aims to achieve sizable reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This is in alignment with both WSF’s target to reduce ferry fleet emissions and Washington state’s broader environmental goals.
As the propulsion single-source vendor for the new WSF ferries, ABB selected the Corvus Dolphin NxtGen ESS for the vessels. Lightweight and high power, the system incorporates next-generation marine ESS design with the well-proven safety features and performance profile integral to Corvus battery systems.
The shipyard contract for the WSF project was awarded to Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group. The first two hybrid electric ferries for WSF are scheduled for operation in 2030 and in 2031.
– Corvus Energy
