Stillstrom, in partnership with EnBW and BP, has started a feasibility study for integrating offshore charging of service operation vessels (SOVs) and crew transfer vessels (CTVs) into the Morgan and Mona wind farms offshore the UK.
Offshore charging could enable EnBW and BP, Morgan and Mona wind farm developers, to achieve an electrified and decarbonised offshore wind farm vessel operation throughout the lifetime of the wind farm by utilising electricity produced at the site for an all-electric O&M operation.
The study focuses on offshore charging solutions connecting and integrating with the wind farms’ offshore substations. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the operational, technical, and financial feasibility of incorporating offshore charging capabilities for SOVs and CTVs within the two wind farms.
The study also looks at Stillstrom’s offshore charging solutions and focuses on either charging directly from the offshore substation via hang-off solutions or offshore charging buoys.
The next steps following this study would involve initiating a FEED study before the final investment decision and installation of offshore charging solutions in the Morgan and Mona wind farms.
“We believe that integrating offshore charging solutions into wind farms is a progressive step towards driving the energy transition and could help support the project’s aims for net zero O&M activities,” said Burkhard Römhild, project director at EnBW.
The Morgan and Mona offshore wind farms, located in the Irish Sea, could have a combined potential generating capacity of 3GW, which is estimated to provide enough electricity for around 3m UK homes each year.
