Green Marine UK's Project Verdant: Revolutionizing Offshore Wind Farm Servicing with Hydrogen-Powered CTVs
Key Ideas
- Green Marine UK's maritime initiative, Project Verdant, has received approval to retrofit crew transfer vessels (CTVs) with hydrogen, fuel cells, and batteries, aiming to significantly reduce emissions while servicing offshore wind farms.
- The hybrid system incorporating hydrogen fuel cells could cut CO2 emissions by up to 30% and NOx emissions by up to 40%, providing a greener and more sustainable solution for offshore wind farm maintenance.
- The project's successful AiP by RINA marks a milestone in the wind industry, ensuring safe operations in UK waters and paving the way for future scalability and adoption of hydrogen fuel-cell vessels.
- With the offshore support sector projected to grow substantially by 2050, the demand for environmentally friendly vessels like hydrogen-powered CTVs is set to increase, offering a promising outlook for the industry's transition to net zero.
Green Marine UK's Project Verdant, a groundbreaking maritime initiative, has been granted approval in principle by RINA to retrofit crew transfer vessels (CTVs) operating in offshore wind farms with hydrogen, fuel cells, and batteries. The project's first phase, involving a design and feasibility study, has been completed successfully, showcasing the potential for reducing emissions while maintaining efficient offshore wind farm services. By integrating hydrogen fuel cells with electric motors and existing engines, the CTVs can achieve zero-emission operation during slow-speed tasks, significantly lowering CO2 and NOx emissions.
Jason Schofield, the Managing Director of Green Marine UK, highlighted the importance of obtaining AiP for Project Verdant, emphasizing the project's ability to adhere to maritime regulations and operate safely in UK waters. The innovative hybrid system not only reduces environmental impact but also presents a scalable model for future adoption of hydrogen technology in the maritime sector.
David Lynch, Business Development Director of RINA UK Wind & Marine Offshore, praised the milestone AiP for the hydrogen-powered CTV, underlining its contribution to greener service maintenance within the wind industry. Supported by Innovate UK funding, Waves Group, and the European Marine Energy Centre, Project Verdant aims to drive forward the use of sustainable practices in offshore wind farm servicing.
As the offshore support sector continues to expand, predicted to reach GBP 26 billion by 2050, the demand for vessels like hydrogen-powered CTVs is expected to grow. With approximately 400 CTVs already in operation and an increase to 700 projected by 2030, the industry's shift towards net zero emissions aligns with the innovative solutions offered by Project Verdant and similar initiatives.
Topics
Projects
Renewable Energy
Technology
Innovation
Sustainability
Project Development
Maritime Industry
Emissions Reduction
Offshore Support
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