Powering zero-Emission ferries in Denmark with cutting edge technology

Customer Case Study

Powering zero-Emission ferries in Denmark with cutting edge technology

5 Ferries
1 MW
Copenhagen, Denmark

©VOR-J. Bollwein, 2022.

Challenge

With its ambition to be the first carbon-neutral European capital by 2025, Copenhagen was keen to launch five zero-emission electric ferries from Teglholmen to Refhaleøen. The route is serviced by traditional passenger ferries, bringing locals and tourists to a total of 13 stops along the route. 

13 stops, a capacity of 80 passengers, eight bikes, and four wheelchairs/strollers with charging to occur on the floating jetties, at the first and last stop of the route, and within a short period of time, all of these requiring an innovative solution. 

Solution

Unlike charging a static land vehicle, this would require a new approach that allowed fast, reliable charging, accommodating for movements caused by waves or intense weather conditions. 

Heliox, Staubli, and Damen collaborated for an 8-month period to design and develop a new integrated charging system with increased charging capacity constructed at the port area terminals. Two Heliox OC 600kW were installed using a Staubli QCC3 pin as a charging interface. The recharging ‘pin’ from the jetty connected with a charging point in the ferry's bow to enable reliable charging, whatever the weather conditions. With the entire route taking an hour, recharging could occur at the beginning and end of each route. Using a fast-charging system and a small battery pack, recharging completed in as little as 7 minutes without disrupting the schedule. Therefore, the charging itself required no adjustments to the operator’s service therefore ferries could operate on a minimal battery pack and recharge without disturbing the existing schedule.

Simple and automatic fast-charging to batteries in an innovative and bespoke system.

Results

Close cooperation between Heliox, Damen Shipyards, and Staubli has resulted in an auto-mooring system to ensure a secure connection between the vessel and the charging infrastructure. The new battery packs enable sailing in all weather conditions and guarantee ferries remain operational even in extreme weather conditions. In case of unforeseen problems, increased battery capacity at charging points power each vessel for longer routes. 

Solutions have been designed to meet the criteria for the E-Cross label for environmental performance, such they are sustainable, efficient in operation, and remain economically viable even with potential future upgrades. 

The solution has decreased public transport’s total emissions by 14% for NOx and as much as 44% for particles in Copenhagen - a huge step for the city as it ferries towards its 2025 carbon-neutral goal.

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Project Description

Heliox and TU/e ​​aim to develop an integrated solution that makes charging heavy electric vehicles accessible without negative consequences for local electricity networks. Together, we want to achieve this by developing and demonstrating a new, multiple and dynamic charging system for heavy electric vehicles that is equipped with software-controlled stabilization to absorb disturbances on the local energy grid.

The intended system will consist of a dynamically configurable charging system based on modules that can be connected in parallel, each with three 60 kW outputs. With this they want to be able to distribute the loading capacity dynamically over several vehicles. The charging system can therefore be used for opportunity charging up to 360 kW for a single vehicle as well as for regular charging of several vehicles.

In addition, smart software and a microcontroller board are being developed. The converter of the charging system can be used via this software to compensate for grid disturbances. The disturbances are neutralized via a low impedance path. This allows losses on the grid to be converted into usable energy, while improving the voltage quality of the grid. In fact, the system completely takes over the function of current power filters on the basis of smart control.

With its ambition to be the first carbon-neutral European capital by 2025, Copenhagen was keen to launch five zero-emission electric ferries from Teglholmen to Refhaleøen. The route is serviced by traditional passenger ferries, bringing locals and tourists to a total of 13 stops along the route. 

13 stops, a capacity of 80 passengers, eight bikes, and four wheelchairs/strollers with charging to occur on the floating jetties, at the first and last stop of the route, and within a short period of time, all of these requiring an innovative solution. 

Unlike charging a static land vehicle, this would require a new approach that allowed fast, reliable charging, accommodating for movements caused by waves or intense weather conditions. 

Heliox, Staubli, and Damen collaborated for an 8-month period to design and develop a new integrated charging system with increased charging capacity constructed at the port area terminals. Two Heliox OC 600kW were installed using a Staubli QCC3 pin as a charging interface. The recharging ‘pin’ from the jetty connected with a charging point in the ferry's bow to enable reliable charging, whatever the weather conditions. With the entire route taking an hour, recharging could occur at the beginning and end of each route. Using a fast-charging system and a small battery pack, recharging completed in as little as 7 minutes without disrupting the schedule. Therefore, the charging itself required no adjustments to the operator’s service therefore ferries could operate on a minimal battery pack and recharge without disturbing the existing schedule.

Simple and automatic fast-charging to batteries in an innovative and bespoke system.

97% Efficiency
Highest Uptime
Zero Emissions
Back Office Systems
Support Services
Industry's Quietest

Close cooperation between Heliox, Damen Shipyards, and Staubli has resulted in an auto-mooring system to ensure a secure connection between the vessel and the charging infrastructure. The new battery packs enable sailing in all weather conditions and guarantee ferries remain operational even in extreme weather conditions. In case of unforeseen problems, increased battery capacity at charging points power each vessel for longer routes. 

Solutions have been designed to meet the criteria for the E-Cross label for environmental performance, such they are sustainable, efficient in operation, and remain economically viable even with potential future upgrades. 

The solution has decreased public transport’s total emissions by 14% for NOx and as much as 44% for particles in Copenhagen - a huge step for the city as it ferries towards its 2025 carbon-neutral goal.

Download our electric truck report