Siemens Gamesa has commissioned a new hydrogen-ready service operation vessel (SOV).
The SOV, named REM Energy, is technically ready to operate emission free thanks to fuel cells and battery technology.
REM Energy will provide service and maintenance for the offshore wind farms Global Tech 1 and Trianel Windpark Borkum 1 in the North Sea.
The ship was delivered from the Norwegian shipyard Green Yard Kleven on 3 December 2021.
Siemens Gamesa has chartered the REM Energy for four years, which will be operated by the shipping company REM Energy AS.
The home port is Bremerhaven, Germany.
The vessel is now ready for the addition of a 12MW battery, to reduce energy consumption during operation.
The REM Energy is also capable to run emissions free on green hydrogen or with batteries and offshore charging, future-proofing the SOV.
Until a green hydrogen economy is established in Germany, the ship will be conventionally powered by efficient diesel generators.
The REM Energy is almost 90 metres long and almost 20 metres wide.
It will be the workplace and living quarters for up to 75 offshore service technicians and 24 crew members.
“The REM Energy is setting new standards in terms of occupational safety, sustainability and efficiency,” said Stephan Hauhs, managing director of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Deutschland in Bremerhaven.
He added: “With the new SOV, we will be able to optimize the service we are providing for our customers.
“We will increase the availability of the offshore turbines, thereby reducing the cost of electricity and ensuring more clean energy while increasing the safety for our offshore service technicians.”
Worldwide marine traffic accounts for more than 900 million tonnes of CO2 emissions which is more than the entire nation of Germany emits.
Shipping is a sector that is difficult to electrify. Green hydrogen and other power-to-X fuels produced with renewable energy are a key building block for reducing emissions.
With the Brande Hydrogen pilot project and the development of an offshore-wind-to-hydrogen-turbine with integrated electrolyser, Siemens Gamesa said it is aiming to leading the way to unlock a green hydrogen revolution.