The problem to be solved was this: “Enable zero emission operation of scheduled express boats that can carry at least 275 passengers at speeds of minimum 30 knots over 95 nautical miles (Distance Trondheim-Kristiansund)".
Five consortia started the competition beginning 2018: Brødrene Aa, NTNU Technology Transfer / Flying Foil, Rødne Trafikk AS, Transportutvikling AS and Selfa Arctic AS. The 5 consortia brought together a variety of expertise to come up with an end-to-end solution that tackles the problem from all angles: ship builders, designers, engineering companies, system integrators, energy companies, operators etc.
The five consortia came up with different ways to address the problem: they proposed different types and configurations of renewable electricity that ranged from pure battery to pure hydrogen to hybrid hydrogen / battery solutions. All solutions were so promising that they all made it through to the final testing in the summer of 2019.
Trøndelag won the 3rd Local Climate Action of the Year 2018 prize for the Speedboat of the Future PCP. The development efforts that industry put into the project exceeded the expectations of the procurers. The tests that were conducted in the summer of 2019 showed that it will indeed be possible for the Counties to buy emission free express boats in their upcoming call for tenders, some of which are already under preparation.
More information in the full case description.