The first 100% electric cargo cargo makes its inaugural journey

It was in the Fjord of Oslo, Norway, that the first electric container ship-and soon autonomous-of the world made its first trip.The Yara Birkeland would replace 40,000 journeys usually carried out by truck by year.

Up to 3,200 tonnes of fertilizer

Yara likes to define herself as the largest fertilizer producer in the world.Its electric cargo cargo with a length of 80 meters, for a width of 15 m, will therefore be used to transport this type of product.He can receive up to 120 20 -foot containers, with a boarding capacity of 3,200 tonnes.Thus loaded, 6 of the 12 meters of its height will still be visible.

What long destinations will sail this electric ship?None actually.Its daily journey will always be the same, about ten kilometers, between the Porsgrunn factory in the south-east of Norway and the port of Brevik.

For long distances, Yara has another card from its catalog: green ammonia.The company depends on this product, whether ecological or not obtained, to make its fertilizers.Through its subsidiary Yara Clean Ammonia, it develops it for the green hydrogen propulsion of long -term boats.

120 kilometers of autonomy

With a maximum speed of 15 knots (just under 28 km/h), the Yara Birkeland will evolve at a softer look for the battery, around 6 to 7 knots (about 12 km/h).Thus, the energy capacity of the complete pack of 6.8 MWh, divided into 8 compartments, would make it possible to travel approximately 120 km before recharging.

Figures that could result in consumption of around 3.5 kWh/100 km for 2 tonnes to move.In comparison, it is the approximate weight of a Tesla Model S that grills about 5 times more electricity, but rolling 8 times faster.

The battery supplies 2 motors of each 900 kW for propulsion, and 2 others of 700 kW for side trips, more particularly in service to dock, deviate from the quays, and be played with side currents.In addition to avoiding releaseing large amounts of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, the electric cargo would reduce the carbon impact of the company's transport of 678 tonnes per year.

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Autonomous navigation

The inaugural journey allows the players in the project to move on to a new phase.They give themselves 2 years to perform the tests that will certify the Yara Birkeland as a autonomous cargo.The device is based on a series of sensors that testify to its real orientation on the ground.

This involves eliminating the risk of accidents.Yara believes that the latter are most of the fact of human errors caused by fatigue and interpretation errors.

From this stage, the crew on board will be gradually reduced.The ship should even no longer count human presence on board 1 to 3 years later.And not only to move.Also to carry out the electricity supply of the battery, and embark and then unload the containers.

A slowdown calendar

No immediate commercial exploitation following the demonstration trip of the electric ship.It will not intervene before next year, when the initial calendar envisaged it for the second quarter of 2018.Already slowed down, the Yara Birkeland program roadmap does not seem to be the most dynamic.

Two reasons explain it.The first is administrative: the regulations necessary for autonomous navigation simply does not exist today.Then the journey followed by the Yara Birkeland is not the simplest.Its route through a relatively narrow fjord, will be congested by very diverse boats that will go from kayaks to other freight transport ships.The port of Brevik is itself very busy and not always very easy to access.

Note that the completely autonomous exploitation of the Yara electric cargo was initially announced for 2020.

A project that dates from 2017

First visible stone of the Yara Birkeland program, a partnership with the Kongsberg group, formalized in May 2017.The agreement focused on the construction of the first electric and autonomous ship in the world.

Recognized to provide high -tech solutions to clients in the sectors of the merchant, offshore, petroleum and gas, defense and aerospace, this company was responsible for developing and providing allInnovative technologies on board the cargo.Including the powertrain with its battery, as well as the sensors and their integration for the autonomous operation of the boat.

The building will also be checked from the Massterlys surveillance and operating center in Horten, a joint venture founded by Kongsberg and the maritime group Wilhelmsen.

Supported by the National Agency ENOVA

The Norwegian National Agency ENOVA, commissioned to support the energy transition and the development of renewable energies, supported the program up to 133.5 million crowns (around 13.25 million euros).This decision was made in September of the same year 2017, while a 6 -meter demonstrator taking on specific technologies had been presented.

The construction of the Yara Birkeland was entrusted the following year to the Vard sites, formerly Stx Europe.The contract was then estimated at 250 million crowns, or almost 25 million euros.