Corvus Energy's 41 MWh marine battery system enters service on Buquebus electric ferry

Norwegian marine battery supplier Corvus Energy has commissioned the energy storage system for the China Zorrilla, a battery-electric ferry built by Incat Tasmania for Buquebus. The ship has entered commercial service between Argentina and Uruguay.

The vessel has more than 41 MWh of Corvus batteries: 5,016 Dolphin Energy NxtGen modules in four battery rooms. Corvus says the system is the largest battery installation ever deployed on a ship, about four times larger than any previous battery system in commercial maritime service.

The ferry can carry more than 2,100 passengers and over 225 vehicles across the Río de la Plata on electric power. It can sail for 1.5 hours on batteries alone. Corvus says China Zorrilla is the first fully electric ship of its kind in South America.

“This project proves that battery-electric propulsion is no longer limited to smaller ferries or short routes,” said Ole Jacob Irgens, Executive Vice President and Head of Sales at Corvus Energy. “We are now seeing large-scale, high-speed passenger vessels powered entirely by batteries.”

“Every project teaches us something, but this vessel sets a new benchmark,” said Irgens. “Successfully commissioning a battery system of this scale demonstrates the maturity, safety, and reliability of modern marine battery technology.”

Source: Corvus Energy