A study by ScottishPower Renewables and Stillstrom finds that offshore wind farms could be serviced, in the future, by battery-powered zero-emission vessels charged from the windfarm’s own turbines.

The study is the first in a series of three commissioned by ScottishPower to explore options for decarbonising offshore operations and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It looked at the feasibility and benefits of integrating battery-powered service operation vessels (E-SOVs), which would stay at sea for extended periods, into offshore windfarm operations. The study confirms that the electrification of offshore operations is not only technically feasible – but could also deliver both economic and operational benefits.

The findings are being shared through the Operation Zero initiative, which was launched at COP26 in Glasgow and brings together developers and supply chain companies committed to making zero-emission operations and maintenance vessels a reality.

The key findings in the report are:

  • Integrating offshore charging and E-SOVs in offshore windfarms is technically feasible, and operationally and economically viable. E-SOVs can operate in zero-emission mode for up to 18-19 hours a day without charge, thereby reducing GHG emissions;
  • The business case for E-SOVs is competitive with traditional marine gas oil-fuelled vessels and cheaper than other decarbonised solutions such as e-methanol. Operating E-SOVs in offshore windfarms woud almost entirely remove service vessel-related GHG;
  • Offshore windfarms 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.

Ross Ovens, ScottishPower Renewables’ MD for Offshore, said: “By the end of the decade, our aim is to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions for our offshore projects by more than two-thirds, and research like this demonstrates the potential to decarbonise marine operations, which could help achieve this ambition. The study with Stillstrom provides valuable learning on how this innovative technology could be integrated into offshore windfarms and shows the art of the possible. What we need to do now is consider what this means in practice and what that would look like in real-life.”

Read the full whitepaper ‘Offshore Charging Solutions for Service Operation Vessels’ here.