Finnish energy and marine equipment manufacturer Wärtsilä has been selected as the electrical integrator for a battery extension project for the Wasaline ROPAX ferry Aurora Botnia, which operates between Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden.

The Aurora Botnia ferry, which is operated by Wasaline, is equipped with dual-fuel engines and batteries. It uses biogas and batteries for propulsion. The project will increase the ship’s battery capacity by 10.4 MWh, from 2.2 MWh to 12.6 MWh.

Wärtsilä will lead the integration project. It will also deliver the energy management system, upgrade the power drives and perform the control system integration. The system is scheduled to be commissioned in early 2026.

The Aurora Botnia is acting as a floating test lab linked to Wärtsilä’s Sustainable Technology Hub. It allows further development of hybrid technologies to optimize fuel efficiency and minimize exhaust emissions.

The Aurora Botnia, which entered service in 2021, operates with a range of integrated Wärtsilä solutions, including four highly efficient Wärtsilä 31DF engines. The ultra-low-emissions version of the engine has helped the ferry to significantly reduce methane emissions.

Source: Wärtsilä