Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) has signed a contract with the Estonian shipbuilder Baltic Workboats to upgrade the diesel-electric propulsion system on board the Tõll ferry to battery hybrid. Operated by TS Laevad between western Estonia’s major islands and mainland, the upgraded ferry – which serves the Virtsu-Kuivastu route – is expected to reduce its consumption of diesel fuel by one fifth as a result of the hybridization.
NES is the system integrator on the project and has developed a hybrid-electric propulsion system that has been successfully delivered on several ferries. The system comprises a Quest energy storage system, Norwegian Electric switchboard, Norwegian Electric transformer, energy management system, project management, engineering and calculations together with commissioning and sea trial. LMG Marin has designed the hybrid solution, and the battery banks are supplied by Corvus Energy.
The conversion work will take place this year, and Tõll will be sailing on battery power by February 2020. If the project proves successful, the technology will be deployed on all four new environmentally friendly electric ferries operated by TS Laevad.