UNESCO Heritage fjord to run battery fast ferries
A contract has been agreed to power fast ferries with pure electricity in a UNESCO World Heritage site in Norway.
Scana-owned PSW Power & Automation has contracted Plug – Shore Power & Maritime Charging for a battery-integrated Megawatt Charging System (MCS) in the Geiranger fjord, a site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The system is designed to support fast ferries, enabling rapid and efficient charging and ensuring grid stabilisation using an integrated charging solution combining a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a smart energy management system.
This coordinated approach optimizes energy supply, storage, and consumption, enhancing grid flexibility while ensuring reliable and efficient charging for zero-emission vessels, PSW says.
“This marks an important step towards greener maritime operations and supports the transition to zero-emission vessels while helping preserve a unique and protected natural environment,” says PSW. “By combining shore power with battery storage, the system ensures a flexible and robust energy supply while reducing strain on the local grid.”
Marketing manager Janiche Bull Pettersen told Maritime Journal that the fast ferries would be entirely powered by batteries, which will in turn by charged from the BESS that is charged by the local grid.
“The system is designed with temperature control system to operate in temperatures ranging from harsh winter temperatures to hot summer temperatures without degradation of battery lifetime,” Pettersen said.
“This contract represents an important confirmation of our role in the maritime energy transition,” said Jens Hjorteset, director of Business Development. “Building on our proven delivery of shore power and grid‑connected energy storage solutions, we are strengthening a partnership that is already driving measurable impact.
The equipment is scheduled to be delivered this autumn, with other projects planned for commissioning in the summer.
