{"id":8677,"date":"2025-04-30T20:03:21","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T20:03:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/?p=8677"},"modified":"2025-04-30T20:03:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T20:03:21","slug":"wasaline-ropax-aurora-botnia-set-for-worlds-largest-battery-retrofit-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/?p=8677","title":{"rendered":"Wasaline RoPax Aurora Botnia set for world\u2019s largest battery retrofit yet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wasaline RoPax Aurora Botnia set for world\u2019s largest battery retrofit yet
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Finland\u2019s Wasalin<\/a>e is making a significant step forward on its path to sustainability by expanding the onboard battery capacity of its 150-meter RoPax ferry Aurora Botni<\/em>a with an additional 10.4 MWh of battery capacity, to be delivered this fall. The batteries, which will be in operation in January 2026, will be supplied by Andorra-based marine battery specialist AYK Energy.<\/p>\n

Built in 2021 by Rauma Marine Constructions, the Aurora Botnia<\/em> presently operates on dual-fuel LNG\/biomass engines and 2.2 MWh batteries. The upgrade to a battery system nearly five times more powerful is expected to slash fossil energy use by around 10,000 MWh annually, cutting emissions by nearly a quarter each year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the largest battery retrofit on a vessel to date, and we are extremely proud to be partnering with Wasaline as the provider of this advanced battery solution. Being recognized once again as a reliable and cost-effective supplier is extremely gratifying\u201d, says Chris Kruger, founder and president at AYK Energy. \u201cThis project exemplifies AYK\u2019s vision of bringing high quality, safe and cost-effective solutions to address our customers requirements for environmentally friendly transport. The transition to electric and hybrid vessels is accelerating, and the AYK\/Wasaline partnership is an excellent example of how working together strategically can make the change happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are continuously working to establish the Vaasa\u2013Ume\u00e5 route as a green shipping corridor,\u201d Peter St\u00e5hlberg, managing director of Wasaline. \u201cThere\u2019s growing demand for environmentally friendly transport, and intermodal cargo transportation from Europe is increasing yearly. This means the entire transport chain can be carbon-neutral today. Expanding our battery capacity is a major step that allows us to make our vessel even more sustainable and allocate more capacity to batteries and biogas. Our collaboration with Finland\u2019s and the region\u2019s energy clusters makes innovative solutions like this possible and we are proud to be a forerunner in the industry.\u201dd hybrid vessels is accelerating, and the AYK\/Wasaline partnership is an excellent example of how working together strategically can make the change happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kruger added that the AYK system is scheduled to be delivered and installed on Aurora Botnia <\/em>by the end of 2025 at the Turku Repair Yard in Finland enabling the Aurora Botnia to be operational again by January 2026. He said the batteries are lithium iron phosphate (LFP) known for their safety and long lifespan compared to the more volatile nickel manganese Cobalt (NMC) batteries.<\/p>\n

\u201cAYK\u2019s battery systems are built around safety,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are one of the few manufacturers to exclusively use LFP and have developed a system where the LFP chemistry is safer and has comparable energy density to NMC.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Svitzer\u2019s battery-methanol tug will have 6 MWh AYK Energy battery<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n