Green Marine UK's Project Verdant: Retrofitting CTVs with Hydrogen for Offshore Wind Farms
Key Ideas
- Green Marine UK to retrofit crew transfer vessels with a hybrid system of hydrogen fuel cells and batteries to cut emissions when servicing offshore wind farms.
- Project Verdant's phase one completion deemed viable with the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 30% and NOx emissions by up to 40%.
- Obtaining Approval in Principle (AiP) from RINA marks a significant milestone, enabling safe operation of CTVs using hydrogen technology in UK waters.
- Collaboration with Innovate UK-funded partners aims to advance maritime decarbonisation and support the International Maritime Organisation's goal to reduce industry emissions by 50% by 2050.
Green Marine UK has embarked on Project Verdant, a venture to retrofit crew transfer vessels (CTVs) with a hybrid system of hydrogen fuel cells, fuel cells, and batteries to reduce emissions while servicing offshore wind farms. The initiative has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from RINA, allowing for basic design execution, detailed engineering, and field tests. The project's completion of phase one, which involved a preliminary design and feasibility study, has paved the way for sea trials. The hybrid system, which combines hydrogen fuel cells and electric motors with existing diesel-fueled engines, is expected to cut CO2 emissions by up to 30% and NOx emissions by up to 40%, based on initial findings.
Obtaining AiP was a crucial milestone for Green Marine UK, ensuring compliance with Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) regulations. Managing Director Jason Schofield expressed confidence in the safety and viability of operating CTVs with hydrogen technology. The project has the potential to de-risk the implementation and testing of hydrogen fuel cell vessels, with scalability and economies of scale in mind for future adoption.
Project Verdant is led by Green Marine UK in collaboration with partners like Waves Group and the European Marine Energy Centre. The system design aims to enhance vessel redundancy and flexibility by utilizing readily available or emerging hydrogen infrastructure. This innovative approach serves as a testbed for advancing maritime decarbonization without compromising operational efficiency.
The shipping industry's significant contribution of 2.5% to global CO2 emissions has prompted initiatives like Project Verdant to align with the International Maritime Organisation's objective of reducing industry emissions by 50% by 2050. Through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, Green Marine UK and its partners are driving sustainable practices and technological advancements in the marine industry.
Topics
Middle East
Sustainability
Energy Transition
Offshore Wind
Marine Engineering
Emissions Reduction
Marine Technology
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