The Vard group reports that the three-year Ocean Charger project has been officially started with a gathering in Ålesund of all involved partners from industry and research which comprise the consortium.
In 2022, the Ocean Charger project was awarded NOK 38m through the Norwegian Government’s Green Platform Initiative support scheme. Vard says it will lead the way from research to testing, validation, and commercialisation of new technological solutions for energy transfer to battery-powered ships offshore, 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.
Currently under construction at Vard Søviknes, the CSOV (Construction Service Operation Vessel) REM Power will be the first vessel to partake in the testing of Ocean Charger project. By connecting vessels to the power grid in the wind farm/harbour and charging batteries regularly, the aim is to power operations with a minimum of additional energy sources.
Håvard Vollset Lien, VP Research and Innovation, Vard Group said: “We are delighted to launch this innovative project together with our very strong consortium. It is our firm belief that offshore charging will be a decisive capability to minimise the environmental footprint of the ship operations within offshore wind. The project will also investigate the potential for expanding its use into other short sea shipping segments.”
In the coming years, a substantial new maritime infrastructure will be developed and built for the offshore wind industry in Norway. Based on the development for other segments, batteries have proven to be the most mature technology for zero or low-emission vessels. This technology constitutes the basis for developing the Ocean Charger project.
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.
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.
Head of Innovation Maritime CleanTech, Øystein Huglen, said: “Developing the offshore wind industry in Norway will drive significant new maritime activity, including a new fleet and maritime infrastructure. The launch of the Ocean Charger project marks an important milestone toward creating a green, maritime value chain for offshore wind, and we are very excited to take part in this project.”
