UK engineering and energy advisory consultancy Apollo has completed trials of its PALM system for the offshore charging of marine electric vessels.
The project is supported by nearly £800,000 in funding from the UK Department for Transport through Innovate UK.
The trials were conducted in collaboration with Orkney-based partners Leask Marine and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) and carried out in Orkney waters in October 2024 at EMEC’s Scapa Flow test site (pictured).
The PALM Charger, a ‘plug and play’ charging point, is designed to enable electric service vessels and other marine EVs to recharge while operating offshore for extended periods.
The trials aimed to demonstrate the technology in a real offshore environment, explore the electrical aspects of power transfer, and refine the marine design.
Apollo said the tests were “a resounding success”, with the system completing multiple connect, power, and disconnect operations under a variety of sea conditions.
The results showcased 100% reliability of the mechanical and electrical connection and provided key insights into the marine handling operations, the company added.
These findings will inform the next stage of development and support final design refinements.
Apollo’s offshore renewables director Nigel Robinson said: “The excellent teamwork across all partners –Apollo, Leask Marine, and EMEC – was key to the successful execution of this ambitious project.
“The trials have demonstrated that our technology is ready for the next commercialisation stage.
“The reliability and performance we have seen in Orkney waters, along with the lessons learned, position us well to deliver a commercial product that will revolutionise marine EV charging.”
Leask Marine managing director Douglas Leask said:”Leask Marine is always proud to be part of innovative projects like Apollo’s PALM trials, as we firmly believe that groundbreaking technology is crucial for the evolution of the marine industry.
“This project holds the potential to drive significant change in energy transition, enabling working vessels to operate in a more environmentally sustainable manner.
“We were especially pleased to collaborate as a partner with Apollo and EMEC on this project, contributing to a greener future for the maritime sector.”
EMEC assistant project manager Abbie Sinclair added: “We have really enjoyed working with Apollo and Leask Marine on this project.
“We supported Apollo in proving the electrical connectivity of the PALM connector by leading the testing operations, providing power supply and designing a bespoke electrical and control system to facilitate the tests.
“We worked closely with Leask Marine to set up their barge as a test rig to mimic vessel handling operations.
“EMEC specialise in facilitating at sea trials of marine technologies. The PALM charger trials took place at our test site in Scapa Flow, a leased area of seabed created for testing marine energy technologies and subsystems.
“This trial provides a great example of the flexibility of our test sites and how we can support other industries, in this case maritime decarbonisation, to demonstrate concepts and ideas in a real-life scenario.”
With the tests completed, Apollo said it is moving towards a commercial redesign of the PALM Charger, with deployment planned for 2025/26.