Echandia secures order for the world’s first emission-free high-speed catamaran
13th November 2021
Stockholm-based Echandia has signed an agreement to supply the world’s first emission-free high-speed catamaran with an integrated battery and hydrogen-based fuel cell system.
The client is Green City Ferries AB and the ferry is planned for commercial traffic in Stockholm.
The installation will take place in the autumn of 2022 and the agreement is worth approximately SEK 14 million for Echandia.
Echandia is a world-leading developer of advanced battery and fuel cell systems for maritime electrification.
The agreement is for the Beluga24 model, which is designed by Teknicraft in New Zealand and the Italian Studio Sculli and is built in carbon fiber by Green City Ferries north of Stockholm.
The high energy efficiency of Echandia’s integrated battery and fuel cell systems requires less hydrogen, which saves a lot of weight, and the battery part is significantly lighter than competing solutions.
The public transport in Stockholm consists of a fleet of vessels which account for about five per cent of energy consumption but about 50 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions annually (according to Båtplan Stockholm 2025).
Green City Ferries’ goal is to switch to emission-free and fast waterborne transport in the world’s cities. The start for this takes place in Stockholm with support from Klimatklivet and EU. Before initializing final production stages, Green City Ferries will secure additional external financing.
