Corvus Batteries for Five New All-Electric Ferries in Amsterdam

Corvus Energy will deliver lithium-ion battery-based energy storage systems (ESS) from for five new all-electric ferries being built for Amsterdam’s municipal public transport provider, GVB, that will replace the current fleet built in 1930s.

The order for the Corvus Energy ESS has been placed by Holland Ship Electric. The ferries, that are being built by Holland Shipyard Group, will operate on three of the North Sea Canal routes, replacing the current fleet built in the 1930s. 

All five new all-electric ferries are of the Ijveer design and will be built in Holland Shipyard Group in the Netherlands. Each ferry is 41 meters in length, is 13,9 meters wide, holds 20 cars, four trucks, or 400 passengers. The ferries will be equipped with air-cooled Corvus Orca Energy ESS that will supply electrical power to the ferry’s all-electric power and propulsion system.

The first new ferry will arrive in the summer of 2021. After that, one will arrive every six months, until 2023.

The routes in the North Sea Canal are amongst the busiest routes, transporting more than 350 000 cars a year. The replacement of the ferries is in line with the sustainability goals set by GVB and the Municipality of Amsterdam to provide zero-emission public transport in the Municipality of Amsterdam and surroundings. The aim of GVB`s extensive newbuilding and retrofit program aims is that the entire fleet will be hybrid or fully electric by 2025.

Kim Strate Kiegstad, Vice President Sales at Corvus Energy said:"Corvus Energy is very proud to be selected as supplier for these prestigious projects and to contribute to huge emissions savings in the North Sea Canal."

He says: "We see that the adoption rate for maritime Energy Storage Systems is increasing significantly across the globe – and especially in Europe. 

"In every market, this is a process that needs to mature. Companies such as GVB leading by example will help local shipbuilding and shipowners increase their level of knowledge of the technology and its benefits. We do expect that almost every future newbuild will have some kind of energy efficiency solution included.”

According to Corvus Energy, the company provides battery power to more ferries than all other providers of energy storage systems combined. Beginning with the first zero-emission ferry, Ampere, Corvus Energy’s ESSs have now been selected for close to 100 hybrid and all-electric ferries globally, the company said.