Swedish marine battery and electrification company Echandia has appointed a new head of business development for the Danish market, in which it has already gained a foothold through supplying the battery systems for the Copenhagen commuter ferries built by Damen Shipyards.
The company believes that the Danish market is in an expansive growth phase, Morten Larsen (pictured), who has an extensive background in the maritime industry, including as CEO of Fjord Line, has been recruited to lead the business development to meet the growing demand.
Echandia is a developer of zero-emission energy solutions for heavy-duty maritime electrification, and has a customer base in Europe, Asia and Oceania, including Cochin Shipyards, which building a large fleet of electric ferries in Kochi, India, as well as Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards.
Denmark has high ambitions to decarbonise maritime transportation. In a partnership between 13 industry actors and the government, clear goals have been set. In a report by ‘Klimapartnerskabet’, led by AP Møller-Mærsk CEO Søren Skou, it is stated that Denmark should reach climate neutrality for the maritime sector in 2050 and have the first ocean going zero-emission vessel in commercial operation by 2030. Since 2018, Echandia has delivered battery systems that provide operators such as Arriva in Denmark with zero-emission and hybridization opportunities.
Magnus Eriksson, CEO and Founder, Echandia, said: “We are excited to welcome Mr Larsen to Echandia. He has pushed technical boundaries to make shipping more sustainable and more energy efficient throughout his career. The combination of Morten’s deep understanding of the maritime sector and his knowledge about the Danish market will help Echandia to further establish its presence in Denmark. The Danish market is especially interesting and important to Echandia, and with Morten on board we are ready to advance the sustainable development of the maritime sector on the Danish market.”
Larsen added: “Even though shipping has been in constant change, the transformation ahead is the most foundational I’ve ever seen. The sheer amount of sea-based traffic between the Danish islands, with relatively short distances make battery-electric solutions a ‘no-brainer’.”
