ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) has confirmed that offshore charging for electric service and crew transfer vessels is technically and economically viable, based on findings from two new studies released under its Operation Zero initiative.
The reports, conducted by MJR Power & Automation and Oasis Marine, highlight the potential of battery-powered Service Operation Vessels (E-SOVs) and electric Crew Transfer Vessels (e-CTVs) to reduce emissions and operating costs in offshore wind farm support services.
“These latest studies have the potential to help the industry take a step closer to a new era for offshore windfarm operations – not just here in the UK, but right across the globe,” said Ross Ovens, managing director offshore at SPR.
MJR Power & Automation’s analysis indicates that E-SOVs could become cost-competitive with conventional marine gas oil-powered vessels in the near term, with e-CTVs expected to reach cost parity even sooner. The study also supports the viability of combining both offshore and onshore charging to optimise vessel operations.
A separate study by Oasis Marine modeled a wind farm using three e-CTVs supported by Oasis Power Buoy technology. The analysis projected up to £15 million in fuel savings and a reduction of 140,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the project’s 25-year lifespan.
“This is not only feasible, but can deliver strong environmental and economic benefits,” said George Smith, chief technology officer at Oasis Marine.
Paul Cairns, managing director at MJR Power & Automation, added that the findings support a “rapid acceleration of offshore charging as part of the sector’s net-zero goals.”
Operation Zero, launched during the COP26 climate summit, is a collaborative industry effort aimed at promoting zero-emission vessel technologies in the offshore wind sector.
