An illustration of the eWolf tug connected to the charging station at the Port of San Diego. Photo courtesy Crowley
Crowley and the Port of San Diego broke ground this week on the shoreside solar charging station for the country’s first zero-emissions tugboat, eWolf, in San Diego, California.
The charging station is a microgrid charging facility that will allow vessels to recharge quickly while reducing peak loads on the community energy grid. It is equipped with two containerized energy storage systems provided by Corvus Energy. The station is designed to operate on off-peak hours from the community’s energy grid, and it includes a solar power array to support renewable energy use. The technology is also designed to support other electric equipment and vehicle operations, if needed.
The charging station is a microgrid charging facility equipped with two containerized energy storage systems from Corvus Energy, designed to reduce peak loads on the energy grid. It includes a solar power array to support renewable energy use, and can also support other electric equipment and vehicle operations.
The charging station will have a total capacity of 2,990 kW, with each container housing battery modules with a storage capacity of almost 1.5 MWh. The station will also be equipped with a battery monitoring system, HVAC, and firefighting and detection technology.
“We are proud to share in this moment with the City of San Diego to showcase an industry-first, shoreside charging station at the Port of San Diego,” said Matt Jackson, vice president of advanced energy for Crowley. “Building a sustainable, zero-emission port of the future requires pioneering new and innovative technology, as well as a commitment to partnerships so we can meet the needs of our communities, customers and people.”
The eWolf is set to become the first all-electric tugboat in the United States. It will provide ship assist and escort services at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal in the Port of San Diego. The vessel measures 82 feet and boasts a bollard pull of 70 tons. Construction is currently underway at Master Boat Builders in Coden, Alabama, with delivery expected later this year.
The eWolf and its shoreside solar charging station are being developed by Crowley and its partners to operate entirely on electricity, as part of a commitment to emissions-free technology. Partners include the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, the California Air Resources Board, the Port of San Diego, the U.S. EPA, and the U.S. Maritime Administration.
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