Alongside a consortium of industry and research partners, Vard is continuing with research, testing, validation, and commercialisation of technological solutions for energy transfer to battery-powered ships offshore.
Charging tests have been done in port with high voltage charging of the ship`s batteries, while further testing has now been carried out of the Ocean Charger offshore connection solution, demonstrating successful connection and disconnection of the cable under certain sea conditions. By connecting vessels to the power grid in the wind farm and charging batteries regularly, the operational availability of emission-free vessel operations will be secured. The aim is to power operations at the field without using any additional energy sources.
Rem Power is the first vessel to partake in the testing of the Ocean Charger project.
Rem Offshore COO Ronny Pål Kvalsvik said: “For us it is extremely important to be a part of the Ocean Charger project. We can show what we have told for years. Now we have partners bringing this along, and we can prove to the market that this is doable.”
Håvard Vollset Lien, Vard Group VP Research and Innovation said: “The Ocean Charger project and what it represents, the ability to charge vessels offshore, is a central enabler for us as shipbuilders to deliver zero emission ships to the offshore wind industry.”
Vard Design has led the work together with sister companies Seaonics and Vard Electro, partners Rem Offshore, Solstad Offshore, Sintef Energi, Sintef Ocean, DigiCat, Sustainable Energy, Equinor, Source Galileo Norge, Corvus Energy, Plug, Shoreline, Sustainable Energy, University of Bergen, Norce and Maritime CleanTech.
Maritime CleanTech CEO Ada Jakobsen added: “We have proven that the concept can be done, so we are really proud of all the partners here and we are looking forward to the next phase.”
In December 2022, the Ocean Charger Concept was awarded NOK 38m through the Norwegian Government’s support scheme The Green Platform Initiative. Vard’s vision is to lead the green and technological transition in maritime operations through research and innovation.
Image: Ocean Charger project (source: Vard)
