As the technology for electric ferries and rapid charging of marine technologies advances, the challenges of getting sufficient power to the operating slip are becoming a major hurdle to clear on the path towards zero-emission marine transport. These challenges include getting enough power from the utility electric grid, finding space in the terminal for the associated equipment, and mitigating the construction impacts associated with installing the necessary charging equipment and power cables. Overcoming such challenges requires collaboration with the local power utility, thorough assessment of terminal space requirements, and careful development of a construction strategy.

The power grid is an incredibly effective system that perfectly balances the amount of electricity needed at any given moment with the amount of power provided by the mix of generating plants. These generators can include traditional coal and natural gas power plants, as well as wind farms, solar farms, and other renewable energy sources. Maintaining this balance requires a complex network of transmission lines, substations, distribution lines, and control, alarm, and monitoring systems. Sudden changes in demand can cause brown-outs, power surges, and unstable power supplies that can damage computer and other electrical devices we rely on day in and day out.

For medium to large ferries operating on regular schedules, the amount of power required to make a crossing can be very large and the amount of time available to charge a ferry’s batteries can be relatively short. In many locations, both urban and rural, the existing electric grid does not have enough spare capacity to meet these large demands and additional distribution lines are needed between the ferry terminal and the nearest substation with sufficient space capacity. For remote terminals, it can be many miles to the nearest substation and the combination of new distribution lines and additional substation equipment can be very expensive.

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