In a historic deal, the world’s first electric hydrofoil vessel, the Candela P-12, will serve NEOM’s planned water supply network. A large-scale sustainable development project is taking shape in northwestern Saudi Arabia. NEOM has been awarded the first eight electric vessels, the largest order announced in Candela’s history.
“The P-12 is designed to create a zero-emission water transport system that is a significant improvement over conventional water transport,” said Gustav Haselskog, CEO and founder of Candela.
“Unlike the old system with large, slow and energy-inefficient conventional ferries. The Candela P-12 is a smaller, faster unit allowing more frequent departures and faster passenger travel. All daily needs and services are only a short boat ride away.”
World’s First Electric Hydrofoil Delivered to NEOM, Saudi Arabia
Introduced last year, the Candela P-12 will debut on public transport in Stockholm in autumn 2024.
Soaring above the waves with the help of computer-guided underwater wings (hydrofoils). The P-12 uses 80% less energy than conventional vessels, making it the first electric vessel to combine long-range and high-speed. With a speed of 25 knots and more than two hours of autonomy. The Candela P-12 is the fastest and longest electric passenger ship.
The vessel also offers new levels of comfort. The P-12 digital flight control system stabilizes the vessel 100 times per second by adjusting the angle of attack of the hydrofoils, keeping it stable even in windy and rough seas. Passengers will be smoothly transported across the Red Sea.
The environmental impact of ships is mainly caused by fuel use. Energy efficiency is essential to reducing emissions, rather than the manufacturing phase. Ships equipped with Candela chips consume 80% less energy than conventional ships of the same size. So, the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm conducted a life cycle analysis. It concluded that the P-12 will emit 97.5% less CO2 over its service life compared to a conventional diesel ship of the same size.
Final words
The Candela C-POD electric motor is housed in an underwater pod, making it exceptionally quiet and minimally disruptive to marine life. When airborne, the P-12 creates only a minimal wake. Allowing it to travel faster than conventional ships, which are limited by their large, disruptive footprint.
“We are very proud to offer a system designed with passengers and the environment in mind, with short waiting times fast connection. A very pleasant experience without impacting the environment with wake, emissions, and noise, which will revolutionize the way we travel on the water,” said Candela’s Gustav Hasselskog.
The first eight vessels will be delivered in 2025 and early 2026.
