Canadian electric ferry operator Greenline Marine has worked with partners to design a “charge barge”, or floating platform that stores energy and delivers high-power charging to vessels without overloading the electrical grid.
Built offsite and floated into place, the concept was also designed to serve as a self-contained ferry landing each time the vessel delivers passengers to the site.
With a $96,000 contribution from BC Hydro, Greenline’s design is now complete. This first design, configured specifically for a landing site at Gibsons, will serve as a model for future installations in downtown Vancouver and Bowen Island.
The three charge barges will power Greenline’s first two passenger-only electric ferry routes between Vancouver and Gibsons, and Vancouver and Bowen Island.
"The charging requirements for an electric ferry are far greater than even the most powerful EV superchargers," said Greenline.
"Delivering that magnitude of power directly from the electrical grid would require major capital electrical upgrades and would impose significant loads on the grid during vessel charging.
"Instead, the charge barge has an onboard battery bank that charges steadily from the grid over time, then rapidly transfers power to the vessel during its brief docking time. This approach makes use of available grid capacity with a steady and predictable charge, and eliminates the need for major infrastructure work.
"Greenline’s feasibility study confirmed that, using this method, the existing electrical grid in Gibsons can support up to four round-trip sailings per day."
While designed to support Greenline’s high-speed electric ferries, the charge barge could also provide charging for public users, such as pleasure boaters, and small commercial vessel operators.
Engineering for the charge barge was led by 3GA Marine, with architectural design by Boniface Oleksiuk Politano (BOP) Architects.
The exact site for the charge barge is still unconfirmed, but for engineering purposes the site selected is just outside the Gibsons Landing breakwater.
Access to the barge from the breakwater boardwalk will be via a long wide gangway. Onboard the barge, there would be two deckhouse blocks – one providing space for two containerised battery units, each at 5MWh, and one containing the housing for the megawatt charging system, with additional space for storage. A small service kiosk is also present.
Functionally, the barge is designed to accommodate mooring of one ferry as well as up to two small pleasure craft. Upon arrival of the ferry, after the vessel has been tied up, the short ramp to the vessel is extended for offloading and loading passengers.
Separately, the plug from the dispenser located at the deck edge would be connected to the ferry and once protocols are met, charging begins.