Energy Management News

ABB has secured an order with Washington State Ferries (WSF), the United States’ largest ferry operator, to supply and integrate hybrid-electric propulsion systems for two hybrid-electric 160-auto ferries.With the first two ships scheduled for delivery from Eastern Shipbuilding Group, one apiece in 2030 and 2031, the contract also includes an option for a third ferry. WSF has previously announced plans to build up to 16 ships by the end of 2040, as part of a ferry electrification program targeting lower emissions.ABB will supply and integrate end-to-end systems including power distribution…

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced a Proposed Notice of Sale for the second offshore oil and gas lease sale under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The proposed lease sale, known as Big Beautiful Gulf, or BBG2, is scheduled to take place on March 11, 2026.This sale is the second of thirty Gulf of America oil and gas lease sales required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. By committing to a predictable sale schedule, the Department is delivering on President Trump’s promise to expand American energy production and strengthen U.S. energy dominance.

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has collaborated with Italian ferry operator GNV to deliver the third edition of its training program dedicated to fleet energy efficiency and decarbonization. The three-day course, which took place November 10-12 at the MSC Training Centre in Sant’Agnello, Sorrento, involved approximately 50 members of the technical and operational staff from across the fleet, including Captains, Chief Engineers, Chief Pursers, First Engineers and Deck Officers. The aim was to strengthen skills in energy management…

The Trump administration will hold an auction for drilling oil and gas off the U.S. Gulf next month and has proposed another in a waterway in southern Alaska, it said on Friday.The lease sale in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, which President Donald Trump refers to as the Gulf of America, will make about 80 million acres available. The sale, which will take place on December 10, will be the first of 30 sales in the region through 2040 that were included in Trump's tax law which he signed in July.The Gulf's offshore continental shelf spans roughly 160 million acres…

ABB has secured a contract with Helsinki Shipyard to supply a complete electric power and propulsion solution for the Polar Max icebreaker, which is expected to be delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard by 2030.Polar Max will be constructed through an industrial collaboration between Canadian-controlled facilities in Helsinki, Finland and Lévis, Canada. The 22,800-ton, 138.5-meter vessel is the first shipbuilding project at Helsinki Shipyard under the ownership of Davie, the Quebec-based international shipbuilder.

Vard Electro, a subsidiary of the Fincantieri-owned Vard Group, has signed an agreement with the German shipyard Lloyd Werft for the delivery of complete automation and power management systems to a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) currently being converted into a research vessel.The scope of supply covers the removal of the vessel’s existing automation systems, replacing it with Vard Electro’s advanced SeaQ Integrated Automation System (IAS) and SeaQ Power Management System (PMS)…

ABB has secured a contract to supply power distribution and propulsion systems for seven all-electric double-ended ferries being built by Remontowa Shipbuilding in Poland for Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL).The 50-meter vessels, part of CMAL’s Small Vessel Replacement Program, are scheduled for delivery between late 2027 and early 2029. They will operate on nine routes across Scotland’s Clyde and Hebrides region, each carrying up to 200 passengers and 24 cars, with one vessel configured for 250 passengers and 16 cars.ABB will equip the ferries with its Compact Onboard DC Grid system…

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reported in September that the number of member cruise line ships with the ability to use shore power has nearly doubled since 2018.Today, 166 ships are able to plug in at port, a 12% increase from the prior year. These ships represent 58% of the fleet and 65% of capacity.By 2036, 273 ships that can connect are expected to be in service.As part of the EU’s Fit for 55 decarbonization regulations, by 2030 major ports in Europe will be required to have shore power…

Danish offshore wind developer Orsted can restart work on the nearly finished Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island, a federal judge ruled on Monday, after President Donald Trump's administration halted the project last month.The ruling is a legal setback for Trump, who has sought to block expansion of offshore wind in U.S. waters. It is a palpable victory for Orsted, which has been losing $2 million a day since the project was halted on August 22.Revolution Wind is located 15 miles off the coast.

The owners of Revolution Wind said the Trump administration's reasons for stopping work on its Rhode Island offshore wind farm were "factually incorrect" and only disclosed after it had ordered a halt to the project, according to court documents filed on Thursday.The filing in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is part of a lawsuit brought earlier this month by joint venture partners Orsted and Skyborn Renewables challenging a stop-work order issued to Revolution Wind by the Department of the Interior in August.U.S.

Technology group Wärtsilä has been selected to deliver a fully integrated electric propulsion system with waterjets for two new high-speed catamaran ferries being built for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen.The battery-electric vessels are being built at the Incat shipyard in Tasmania, with Wärtsilä supplying the integrated electric propulsion system, the DC power conversion system, its energy management and automation systems, eight electric propulsion motors and waterjets, as well as the Wärtsilä ProTouch propulsion control system.The two ferries…

Danish wind farm developer Orsted's Revolution Wind joint venture has filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump over the U.S. government's decision to block construction of the project off Rhode Island, a court filing showed on Thursday.The U.S.

President Donald Trump's administration plans to revoke federal approval of Avangrid's planned New England Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts, according to a court filing on Wednesday.The legal maneuver is the latest move by U.S. authorities to stymie development of offshore wind energy, which Trump has called ugly, expensive, and unreliable. Last week, the administration also said it was reconsidering approval of SouthCoast Wind, another planned Massachusetts project.In recent weeks…

Wärtsilä has been selected as the electrical integrator for a major battery extension project for the Wasaline ROPAX ferry "Aurora Botnia." The project will increase the ship’s battery capacity by 10.4 MWh, from 2.2 MWh to 12.6 MWh, making it the world’s largest marine battery hybrid system in operation. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in Q3 2025.In the transition to more sustainable ferry transportation, hybrid propulsion systems have emerged as a compelling solution, offering a multitude of pathways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Brunvoll Mar-El has signed a contract with Oma Baatbyggeri as system integrator and provider ofelectrical propulsion systems for a zero-emission catamaran ferry, commissioned by Rødne FjordCruise. The passenger and vehicle vessel will operate in the stunning Lysefjorden, Norway, with delivery set for June 2026.The delivery from Brunvoll includes full system integration through the Triton Electric & Hybrid solution, featuring the Triton CPP controllable pitch propeller control system, the Triton SG steering gear control system, and the Triton EMS energy management system.

The Trump administration's order to halt work on a nearly completed wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island threatens grid reliability and jobs and defies explanation, business and government leaders from New England said on Monday.State leaders in Connecticut and Rhode Island demanded details from the administration about why it issued a stop-work order to the Revolution Wind project late on Friday. In its letter to project developer Orsted, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management cited unspecified national security concerns."They say there are national security interests here.

The Trump administration on Friday ordered Denmark's Orsted to stop far-advanced construction on an offshore wind project near Rhode Island, in a move that threatens to exacerbate the company's financial troubles.With construction now frozen at 80% completion, Orsted has no immediate path to revenue generation, heightening pressure on the company as it seeks to shore up finances through a $9.4 billion emergency rights issue.The stop-work order, issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is the administration's latest effort to hinder U.S.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the Gulf of America Regional Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sales and Post-Lease Activities Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, a milestone in advancing the Trump administration’s American Energy Dominance agenda. The notice of availability will publish in the Federal Register on August 29. The environmental impact statement analyzes the potential impacts of a representative oil and gas lease sale and post-lease issuance activities in available areas of the Gulf of America.

Cat Pushes Forward on Hybrid Electric Solutions, Alternative FuelsAs the maritime industry continues its transformation driven by decarbonization mandates, OEMs like Caterpillar are central to paving the path. Will Watson, Marine Product Manager, Caterpillar, discusses latest efforts by the company to unlock the potential with hybrid electric and alternative fuel solutions.Key Takeaways to Caterpillar Marine’s Hybrid Propulsion•Hybrid Propulsion Systems: Diesel + battery solutions…

ABB has integrated a 3.2MW fuel cell system onboard Feadship Breakthrough.The vessel was constructed by Dutch high-end yacht builder Feadship. Launched in May 2025, the privately-owned 118.8-meter yacht is among the first vessels in the world to feature multi-megawatt fuel cell technology.ABB’s scope of supply comprised the Onboard DC Grid™ power system platform and two 3.2MW Azipod® electric propulsion units, which minimize noise and vibrations on board. ABB’s Power and Energy Management System PEMS™ optimizes energy use on board…

Wasaline says it has become the first carbon-neutral shipping company in the Baltic Sea, reaching its original 2030 climate target six years ahead of schedule. The milestone comes as the Finnish-Swedish operator signed a biogas supply contract with Gasum and entered a FuelEU Maritime pooling agreement with Stena Line, enabling its Vaasa–Umeå service to run entirely on biofuels.The agreement makes the route the first international green shipping corridor in operation, an achievement supported by the DNV-led Nordic Roadmap.

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has secured an order from U.K.’s largest shipowner and operator North Star for the construction of two hybrid Service Operation Vessels (SOVs).The contract represents the ninth and tenth vessel ordered by North Star from VARD, following previous orders for four SOVs, two Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs), and two Vard Design vessels built at an external shipyard.The new vessels will be developed by Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway, based on the VARD 4 19 platform…

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced a direct final rule rescinding a section of its regulations that outlined the renewable energy lease sale schedule.Under the rescinded regulation, BOEM required the Secretary of the Interior to publish a five-year schedule of anticipated offshore renewable energy lease sales at least every two years.After reviewing this regulation, the Department of the Interior has determined this provision is not mandated under the…