The Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) has announced four winners of a competition designed to accelerate the development of technologies that will enable a reduction in emissions and fuel consumption for Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) used to operate and maintain offshore wind farms.
The winning applications are:
Chartwell Marine and Seaspeed Marine Consulting:
A desktop study into the development of a 15 metre hybrid diesel/electric outboard CTV. The concept combines a high freeboard hull with two diesel and two electric outboard engines. The design proposes to operate in up to 1.5 metre significant wave heights and transit speeds of 20 to 25 knots.
A desktop study into the development of a 15 metre hybrid diesel/electric outboard CTV. The concept combines a high freeboard hull with two diesel and two electric outboard engines. The design proposes to operate in up to 1.5 metre significant wave heights and transit speeds of 20 to 25 knots.
CWind:
Supporting technology development for the construction of a prototype hybrid diesel/electric Surface Effect Ship (SES) CTV. The design combines a hybrid diesel/electric drivetrain with SES technology (provided by the Norwegian design house, ESNA). This 22 metre vessel will be able to carry 24 passengers at a transit speed of nearly 40 knots in significant wave heights in excess of 1.5 metres.
Supporting technology development for the construction of a prototype hybrid diesel/electric Surface Effect Ship (SES) CTV. The design combines a hybrid diesel/electric drivetrain with SES technology (provided by the Norwegian design house, ESNA). This 22 metre vessel will be able to carry 24 passengers at a transit speed of nearly 40 knots in significant wave heights in excess of 1.5 metres.
Robert Allan:
A desktop study for a methanol/electric hybrid CTV. This concept takes advantage of the high volumetric energy density and stable liquid properties of methanol, in combination with a hybrid battery propulsion system. The study will look at the feasibility of applying this fuel type to a 21 metre CTV, capable of 20 knot transit speeds, in addition to boost and electric only operational modes.
A desktop study for a methanol/electric hybrid CTV. This concept takes advantage of the high volumetric energy density and stable liquid properties of methanol, in combination with a hybrid battery propulsion system. The study will look at the feasibility of applying this fuel type to a 21 metre CTV, capable of 20 knot transit speeds, in addition to boost and electric only operational modes.
Windcat Workboats and CMB Technologies:
Supporting the development of a prototype hydrogen powered CTV which utilises hydrogen-diesel co-combustion. The ‘Hydrocat 1’, based on the Windcat MK3.5 platform, will be capable of using a majority of green hydrogen as fuel.
Supporting the development of a prototype hydrogen powered CTV which utilises hydrogen-diesel co-combustion. The ‘Hydrocat 1’, based on the Windcat MK3.5 platform, will be capable of using a majority of green hydrogen as fuel.
Each of them will receive advice from the OWA partners to support the commercialisation of their technologies, in addition to a share of £300,000 in funding. The competition is being delivered by the Carbon Trust, with support from Black & Veatch, on behalf of the nine OWA industry partners: EnBW, Equinor, innogy, Ørsted, RWE Renewables, ScottishPower Renewables, Shell, SSE, and Vattenfall. The work is expected to conclude at the end of 2020.