ABB Sets Course for Sustainable River Transport With Electric Ferries

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ABB has won a landmark contract with Spanish shipbuilder Astilleros Gondán to supply all-electric power solution for ten new ferries transporting passengers across Lisbon’s Tagus river, reads the company website.

Integrated electric power

The 40m ferries will be operated by the public ferry  company Transtejo, replacing the existing fleet when they enter service between 2022 and 2024.

In addition to energy storage, ABB will deliver a fully integrated electric power solution and marine and propulsion automation system.

ABB estimates that this move from diesel to electric power will reduce CO2 emissions by 6,500 tonnes every year. “Cutting greenhouse gas emissions are top priorities in urban planning,” said Antonio Pacheco, director of GRP division, Astilleros Gondán. “Today, the technologies chosen for fast ferries operating so close to the heart of the city must be clean and green, as well as proven in terms of safety and reliability,” he added.

Safe and reliable operation

The new ferries will be powered by battery packs with a total capacity of 1,860 kWh each. ABB’s Onboard DC GridTM power distribution system will ensure an optimised battery output as well as enabling safe integration and reliable operation of other propulsion system components.

The overall power setup will be controlled by ABB’s Power and Energy Management System which also increases fault tolerance.

  • The ferries will carry 540 passengers each across three key routes linking Lisbon to Cacilhas, Seixal and Montijo.
  • They will have a service speed of 16 knots and a maximum speed of 17 knots.

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Source: ABB