Offshore wind farms could be serviced by battery-powered zero-emission vessels charged from the wind farm’s own turbines in the future, a study by ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) and Stillstrom by Maersk has found.
The study is the first in a series of three commissioned by SPR to explore options for decarbonising offshore operations and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
It looked at the feasibility and benefits of integrating battery-powered service operation vessels (E-SOVs), which stay out at sea for extended periods, into offshore wind farm operations.
The study confirms that the electrification of offshore operations is not only technically feasible – but could also deliver both economic and operational benefits.
The findings are being shared through the Operation Zero initiative, which was launched at COP26 in Glasgow and brings together developers and supply chain companies committed to making zero-emission operations and maintenance vessels a reality.
The report found that E-SOVs can operate in zero-emission mode for up to 18-19 hours a day without charge, thereby reducing GHG emissions.
Operating E-SOVs in offshore wind farms will almost entirely remove service vessel-related GHG-emissions as E-SOVs are powered by the clean power at hand in the offshore wind farm, it added.
Finally, offshore wind farms can provide the necessary grid infrastructure for charging E-SOVs, offering greater control over fuel costs and reducing exposure to volatile fuel prices and geo-political risks.
Ross Ovens, ScottishPower Renewables’ managing director for offshore, said: “By the end of the decade, our aim is to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions for our offshore projects by more than two-thirds and research like this demonstrates the potential to decarbonise marine operations, which could help achieve this ambition.
“The study with Stillstrom provides valuable learning on how this innovative technology could be integrated into offshore windfarms and shows the art of the possible.
“What we need to do now is consider what this means in practice and what that would look like in real-life.
“The report offers plenty of food for thought and it’s great to have the support of Operation Zero to share these findings, so we can all collectively work together towards a clean energy future.”
Kristian Borum Jorgensen, chief executive of Stillstrom, added: “Our collaboration with SPR highlights the potential of E-SOVs to fully decarbonise vessel operations in offshore wind farms, making them more sustainable and cost-effective.
“With our offshore charging solutions now commercially ready, we are excited to deliver practical systems that accelerate decarbonisation and enable a cleaner future for offshore operations.”