Wightlink to use DC-Hub in electric ferry
The technology will have fuel, cost and environmental compatibility benefits for shipowners, said The Switch, which is part of Yaskawa Electric Corporation and last year acquired Wärtsilä Drives in Norway.
Speaking about the DC-Hub, Asbjørn Halsebakke, general manager of The Switch Marine Drives Norway, said: “It allows vessel generators to run at optimal efficiency, with batteries taking the strain of any necessary load changes. This significantly reduces fuel consumption – and therefore operational cost and environmental impact.”
He explained that the system’s DC nature allows batteries to be utilized as standby power sources, resulting in generators requiring less maintenance as they can be turned off entirely.
Mr Halsebakke added: “We now have two new DC-Hub deliveries in the pipeline and see a huge potential for growth. This is especially true within the ferry segment, where there are increasing environmental demands from authorities, particularly here in Norway, and for offshore, where existing vessels can transform their energy efficiency with DC.”
Wärtsilä will install the DC-Hub on the 90m vessel at the Cemre shipyard in Yalova, Turkey. The ferry is part of Wightlink’s GBP£45m ‘Investing for the Future’ programme and is scheduled to begin operating in summer 2018.
