Wedoany.com Report-Feb 20, A study by ScottishPower Renewables and Stillstrom has found that battery-powered zero-emission vessels, charged from the wind farm's own turbines, could service offshore wind farms in the future. The study is part of a series of three commissioned by SPR to explore options for decarbonizing offshore operations and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The report confirms that the electrification of offshore operations is not only technically feasible but could also deliver economic and operational benefits. The E-SOVs can operate in zero-emission mode for up to 18-19 hours a day without charge, reducing GHG emissions. Operating E-SOVs in offshore wind farms will almost entirely remove service vessel-related GHG emissions as they are powered by the clean power generated by the wind farm.
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. The study is being shared through the Operation Zero initiative, which brings together developers and supply chain companies committed to making zero-emission operations and maintenance vessels a reality.
SPR's managing director for offshore, Ross Ovens, said that the aim is to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions for offshore projects by more than two-thirds by the end of the decade, and research like this demonstrates the potential to decarbonize marine operations, which could help achieve this ambition. Stillstrom's chief executive, Kristian Borum Jorgensen, added that their collaboration highlights the potential of E-SOVs to fully decarbonize vessel operations in offshore wind farms, making them more sustainable and cost-effective.
