Aqua superPower has installed what it describes as the ‘world’s first battery-backed DC charger for electric boats’ at Fowey Harbour in Cornwall, on the UK south coast.
The system, part of The Electric Seaway (TES) project, enables fast DC charging in areas with restricted grid capacity.
The installation is designed as a demonstrator site to showcase scalable, clean-charging technology in a marine setting. Aqua superPower’s 60kW battery system is connected to the harbour’s single-phase power supply, drawing energy from the grid at a continuous low rate. The stored energy powers an Aqua PKM150 charger that can deliver up to 50kVA of DC output directly to vessels. Aqua superPower says this configuration allows electric boats to recharge in under an hour without requiring a grid upgrade.
Speaking to MIN, Matt Holland, chief project engineer at Aqua superPower, says: “This project has demonstrated two key principles which will guide our future direction: that we can successfully install high-output DC infrastructure in locations which have limited power availability, and that this technology can actually reduce the capital and operational costs of installations by removing the need for a large new grid connection.
“This opens the door for us to approach marinas in any location with a desire to electrify, where we can offer them a solution that works with any power they have, and is economically feasible.”
The 60kW battery-backed system supports Aqua superPower’s PKM150 charger, which is compatible with electric leisure boats, work vessels and ferries. The setup is designed to demonstrate how battery-buffered systems can deliver high-power charging in areas where grid reinforcement is limited or unavailable.
“This is a transformative moment for marine electrification,” says Karen Gill, COO of Aqua superPower. “Our battery-backed DC technology overcomes remote infrastructure barriers, delivering fast charging where it’s needed most. Fowey Harbour is now a beacon for the global shift to clean boating.”
Paul Thomas, CEO and harbourmaster at Fowey Harbour, adds: “This is a game-changer for Fowey Harbour and Cornwall‘s waterways. Aqua superPower’s innovative battery-backed DC charger delivers on our TES commitment, enabling rapid electric boat charging despite our limited grid. We’re proud to lead the way in sustainable maritime transport and protect our pristine coastal environment.”
Holland confirms that the technology is scalable to higher-demand commercial and workboat operations; a market that Aqua superPower is already actively involved in globally. “This technology is scalable, and the principles demonstrated translate directly as the scale increases, so we can see many applications where this would be useful in our commercial-scale projects we are involved in delivering,” he tells MIN.
“For example, a huge selling point of this technology is the potential to reduce the operating costs for commercial operations such as ferry services. This can be achieved by lowering the standing and capacity charges faced by these commercial operators from a new grid connection, by taking advantage of cheaper electricity tariffs during the night, or by removing the capital cost of a new grid connection entirely. This all means real-time savings that Aqua superPower can pass to commercial operators, to make turning these services electric today an easy choice.”
The TES project is being funded through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 3 (CMDC3), a program by the Department for Transport, and is delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. The Electric Seaway aims to establish a network of electric charging points across UK waterways.
Operators, boat owners and visitors can access the new charging system at Fowey Harbour.
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