Feasibility study addresses offshore charging
A feasibility study into offshore charging for wind farm vessels is being carried out by a joint venture between bp and EnBW (Energie Baden-Württemberg) and Stillstrom, who Maritime Journal has reported on before.
The bp/EnBW joint venture is developing two offshore wind farms, ‘Morgan’ and ‘Mona’, which have a potential generating capacity of 3GW – enough for three million households.
To make vessel operations at the wind farms, which are in the Irish Sea, more efficient, the companies are looking at integrating offshore charging for Service Operation Vessels and Crew Transfer Vessels.
“The study encompasses a review of Stillstrom offshore charging solutions and focuses on two scenarios: directly from the offshore substation via hang-off solutions and from offshore charging buoys, considering the technical intricacies of each solution and vessel types,” says Stillstrom.
The study is due to be finished by the end of January, after which a Front-End Engineering Design study would be conducted prior to a Final Investment Decision.
“This partnership signifies a major leap forward for offshore charging and electrification in the maritime industry, showcasing the transformative potential of sustainable energy solutions,” said Stillstrom CEO Kristian Borum Jorgensen.
“We believe that integrating offshore charging solutions into wind farms is a progressive step towards driving the energy transition and could help support the project’s aims for net zero O&M activities,” said EnBW project director Burkhard Römhild.
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