A pioneering project – supported by the UK’s national innovation agency, Innovate UK – is aiming to retrofit a CTV (Crew Transfer Vessel) with hydrogen fuel cells, to cut CO2 and NOx emissions while servicing offshore wind farms.
Phase 1 of Project Verdant is now underway involving a preliminary design and feasibility study. If the concept is deemed viable subsequent project phases will seek to execute the concept design and test it in the field.
The project consortium is led by Orkney-based Green Marine which supports the offshore renewable energy sector across Europe with marine engineering services and a comprehensive fleet of workboats, crew transfer vessels, heavy lift and transportation barges. It is being supported by project partners Waves Group and EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre).
Green Marine’s Managing Director Jason Schofield said the ultimate objective is to capture sufficient learning from the operation of a retro-fitted vessel to enable Green Marine to expand its fleet with new-build ZE CTVs (Zero Emissions Crew Transfer Vessels) and ultimately SOVs (Service Operation Vessels), to support installation and maintenance activities in offshore wind farms in the UK and further afield.
According to the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC), the offshore support sector will be worth around £26 billion by 2050, and an additional 1,200 vessels will be needed to service UK industry and support the transition to Net Zero. Approximately 400 CTVs are currently operating in offshore wind farms around the UK and Europe, and this could increase to 700 by 2030.
“This is a highly ambitious project with potential to dramatically reduce the emissions associated with servicing and maintaining offshore wind farms,” said Jason Hayman, the naval architect leading Project Verdant for Green Marine. “In recent years several new-build hydrogen-powered vessels have been launched, but our current objective is to develop a system that can be easily retrofitted to CTVs that would enable them to be powered by hydrogen fuels cells when in loiter mode for a substantial portion of the day. We are using new and innovative technologies, but we need to ensure that all aspects of our operation are inherently safe for our crew and passengers, and we need to be able to prove that to class and regulators. In the coming weeks and months, we will be engaging with industry leaders and technical experts to develop the design and specifications of the system. A viability assessment will then be undertaken to ensure any risks identified during the project can be adequately addressed or mitigated, and the design is capable of meeting or exceeding the criteria established.”
Project Verdant’s conceptual design incorporates hydrogen fuel cells that are connected to electric motors, which can work in conjunction with the existing diesel-fuelled engines, which can be shut down to enable zero emission operation at slow speed while working within offshore wind farms. This hybrid system could reduce the vessel’s CO2 emissions by up to 30% and NOx emissions by up to 40%.
Marine consultancy Waves Group have partnered with Green Marine and EMEC to help solve the technical and regulatory challenges associated with this innovative project.
Waves Group Associate Director and marine engineer Kenneth English said: “This feasibility study will form the foundation for the use of hydrogen as a marine fuel in the CTV market. The use and ease of its modular design will provide the versatility required to ensure the operational profile of the vessel is maintained.”
Waves Group Engineering Director Jeremy Panes added: “This is a fantastic project, with realistic goals and timelines to really drive forward the knowledge base of designing, building and operating hydrogen marine vessels. Waves Group are proud to have worked closely with Green Marine and EMEC to develop a clear technology and regulatory pathway. We are bringing our knowledge in the handling and use of alternative marine fuels, together with our practical engineering expertise to support this pioneering project.”
Project Verdant will further benefit from economic modelling and advice on refuelling, logistics and safety from EMEC. An early mover in hydrogen, EMEC operates a hydrogen R&D ecosystem demonstrating the full value chain from production and storage to transportation and end use including projects looking at zero-emission engines for commercial aviation, feasibility of hydrogen-powered ferries, and the creation of synthetic aviation fuel.
Globally, the shipping industry is responsible for 940 million tonnes of CO2 – equating to around 2.5% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. The International Maritime Organisation has set a target to cut these emissions by 50% by 2050, with the UK government being the first jurisdiction in the world to include emissions from international shipping in its domestic carbon budget.
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses that develop life-changing innovations. With an annual budget of over £1 billion, it provides businesses with the expertise, facilities and funding they need to test, demonstrate and evolve their ideas, driving UK productivity and economic growth.
Green Marine(UK) Ltd was founded in 2012 in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and operates throughout Europe. Its founders draw on a long history of working in the marine sector, having previously operated a fleet of fishing vessels. Green Marine was established with over 150 years of real sea time experience in its core team. Green Marine provides many services within the offshore renewables industry. As this sector grew, Green Marine procured additional vessels and built a comprehensive fleet of workboats, crew transfer vessels, heavy lift and transportation barges. Key services the company vessels carry out include crew transfers, offshore site surveys, cable installation and recovery, mooring installation and recovery, buoyage installation, towage and salvage. Alongside the expansion of the fleet and as the company’s experience grew, Green Marine began offering engineering services alongside vessel charter. The company now has a highly qualified engineering team consisting of naval architects, project engineers, structural engineers and draughtsmen.
Waves Group
Waves Group is a UK headquartered international multi-disciplinary marine consultancy firm, working in all sectors of the maritime industry from shipping through offshore energy to port and harbour operations. Waves Group helps companies including shipowners, energy companies, contractors, insurers and lawyers, providing them with critical advice, analysis and data to support their operations and improve confidence and certainty in their outcomes.
EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre)
EMEC is a not-for-profit innovation catalyst pioneering the transition to a clean energy future. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023, EMEC is the world’s leading centre for demonstrating wave and tidal energy converters in the sea and is driving the development of green hydrogen and a clean energy economy. As a plug-and-play facility EMEC helps reduce the time, cost and risk of testing innovative sustainable technologies. To date, EMEC has hosted more ocean energy devices than at any other site, providing operational, technical and business support to help clients commercialise.
