Electric Ships are the future
Next year, the Region of Stockholm will sea trial the fastest and longest-range electric ferry to date; Candela P-12 Shuttle, the world’s first hydrofoil passenger ship.
In addition to being fast and comfortable, a new study from Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology suggests that ships with electric hydrofoil technology could reduce emissions from marine transport by 97.5% compared to current diesel vessels.
The country’s leading technical university, KTH, has compared the Candela P-12 Shuttle with the city’s diesel-powered vessels in a life cycle analysis. The analysis examines the different stages of the product’s life; extraction of raw materials, manufacturing and use phase until the product is no longer used, and must be disposed of or recycled. The study shows that over a lifetime of 30 years, the carbon footprint of a Candela P-12 Shuttle is 97.5% lower than that of the compared diesel ships.
According to the authors, the study is the first to demonstrate the difference in environmental impact between electric hydrofoil ferries and traditional ferries. It shows that electric flying ferries can play a significant role in the transition to more sustainable maritime transport.
– The combination of using hydrofoils and being powered by electricity is the main factor in lowering emissions. And since the Swedish electricity grid is almost free of carbon dioxide emissions, this type of ship has a clear advantage, says Felix Glaunsinger, one of the authors of the study.
Worldwide, ships account for around 3% of global greenhouse gasses, comparable to the global aviation industry’s emissions. Emissions are expected to rise considerably in the coming years despite the International Maritime Organisation’s ambition to cut ships’ carbon intensity by 40% by 2030.
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