Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries has awarded Corvus Energy a contract to supply battery energy storage systems for four new hybrid-electric vessels, according to a statement issued by maritime technology firm Corvus on Tuesday.

Each of the four ferries will be equipped with 10 MWh of installed battery capacity, bringing the total combined capacity across the project to 40 MWh. In addition, Corvus will supply battery interface and control systems designed to support a further 60 MWh of capacity per vessel once shore charging infrastructure becomes operational.

The battery systems will enable the ferries to operate entirely on electric power for periods of up to two hours. The vessels will initially enter service using diesel-battery hybrid propulsion and will also be capable of running on biofuel or renewable diesel, providing operational flexibility as cleaner fuel options become more widely available.

Each ferry is designed to carry up to 360 vehicles and 2,100 passengers and crew.

The first vessel is scheduled for delivery by 2029 from China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Group Weihai Shipyard, with all four ferries expected to enter service by 2031.

BC Ferries, officially known as British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., is a provincially owned ferry operator that provides passenger and vehicle ferry service along the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The fleet modernization initiative aligns with the organization's broader strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition toward lower-carbon operations. BC Ferries operates one of the largest ferry systems in the world by fleet size, serving dozens of routes connecting coastal communities and islands, making vessel emissions reductions a significant factor in the region's overall transportation carbon footprint.

The project also benefits from British Columbia's electricity grid, which is predominantly powered by hydroelectric generation, meaning that once shore charging infrastructure is in place, the ferries can charge from a comparatively low-carbon energy source. Shore-side charging capability remains a key enabler for expanding electric-only operating time on ferry routes, and the phased infrastructure approach reflected in this contract mirrors a pattern seen in other hybrid ferry programs across Scandinavia and North America.

Corvus Energy, headquartered in Norway, is a leading supplier of maritime energy storage systems and has previously delivered battery solutions for numerous hybrid and fully electric vessels worldwide. The company's involvement in the BC Ferries project reflects the broader trend of ferry operators emerging as early adopters of maritime battery technology, as fixed routes and predictable schedules make shore charging and electrification more technically feasible than in other shipping segments.

Source: Ship & Bunker