Maritime energy storage system (ESS) developer Corvus Energy has been awarded a milestone contract to supply its battery energy storage systems for four new hybrid-electric, double-ended passenger and car ferries for Canadian ferry operator, British Columbia Ferry Services (BC Ferries).
The four new vessels are part of BC Ferries’ new Summit class and are to be named Summit Arbutus, Summit Cedar, Summit Maple, and Summit Spruce.
Corvus will deliver 40MWh of installed battery capacity—10 MWh per vessel—a scale that places these ships among the highest capacity battery-powered ferries. In addition, Corvus will supply battery interface bases and pack control systems sized for an additional 60MWh (for a total of 70MWh) for each vessel, enabling the vessels to sail nearly emission free for up to two hours as charging infrastructure becomes available. This future-ready design is intended to eliminate the need for major structural modifications and positions BC Ferries at the forefront of large vessel electrification.
The Corvus Dolphin NxtGen Power system—featuring advanced liquid-cooled power cells, improved energy density, and enhanced safety architecture— is said to represent a significant technological leap in marine battery performance. The ESS will be integrated into the power and propulsion package for the new vessels.
BC Ferries selected Corvus based on its experience delivering largescale marine battery installations, its operational presence in British Columbia, and its track record powering the company’s Island class fleet. This ensures long-term lifecycle support for the new vessels, from commissioning through decades of service.
Fredrik Witte, CEO Corvus Energy, said: “We are delighted to be selected again by BC Ferries for this flagship project. BC Ferries continues to drive one of the most ambitious and technically advanced ferry electrification programmes in the world. Our Dolphin NxtGen technology brings the next leap in performance and safety, enabling these vessels to operate efficiently today while paving the way for a fully electric future. We are extra proud that these batteries have been developed at our product development hub in Vancouver, BC.”
BC Ferries provides service on 25 routes to 47 terminals and transports approximately 9.7m vehicles and 22.7m passengers annually. BC Ferries’ new major vessels (NMV) programme, the company’s largest capital investment to date, aims to renew the BC Ferries fleet, increase service capacity, and enable more environmentally sustainable operations. Each of the four new double-ended ferries will be capable of carrying up to 360 vehicles and 2,100 passengers and crew.
Designed in collaboration with LMG Marin, the vessels will feature diesel-battery hybrid propulsion, including compatibility with biofuel or renewable diesel. Their architecture supports a seamless future transition to near zero-emission, all-electric ferry operation when shore charging infrastructure is in place.
BC Ferries’ Head of Fleet Renewal, Ed Hooper, added: “BC Ferries is looking towards the future of what passenger ferry transport can be for the people, businesses and communities that rely on our ferries every day. Our challenge today is an ageing fleet, most notably impacting our major routes. When the new Summit class vessels begin to arrive in 2029, we will be adding more capacity and building better reliability into the way we do business. These vessels will have a long lifespan and working with dependable, long-term partners like Corvus Energy who have a local BC presence and proven ability to support the full system lifecycle, is key to our fleet renewal journey.”
The first vessel is scheduled for delivery by 2029 from China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Group Weihai Shipyard, with all four entering service by 2031.
Image: BC Ferries design rendering (credit: BC Ferries)
