World’s first electric ship-charging station at sea runs on wind power

A Belgian offshore wind energy firm has installed the first electric charging station at sea. The station aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from maintenance and transport vessels.

Parkwind’s innovative system is made operational at its Nobelwind wind farm, allowing vessels to use locally generated green energy directly. The firm claims the method enables ships to connect to the charging line and remain stationary while charging despite sea currents.

The company said in a statement , “By utilizing locally sourced renewable electricity, we are further supporting our mission to generate clean energy while diligently minimizing our environmental footprint.”

MJR, a UK-based power and automation firm, created the technology in partnership with Parkwind and integrated and implemented it together.

Sustainable vessel power

The charging system was installed in Parkwind’s third offshore wind energy project, Nobelwind, which is 29 miles (47 kilometers) offshore in the Belgian North Sea. The facility has 50 installed turbines spread across 19.8 km2 and provides electricity to about 190,000 homes.

Using a substation crane, the system was raised in modules after being transported by a crew transport vessel (CTV) from the quayside to the offshore substation. It was put together, connected, and turned on at the substation in less than two days.

According to the firm, by securely delivering power to a CTV from an offshore wind farm that is fully operational and producing, the arrangement was successfully tested, setting a world record.

The company did extensive testing regarding the operational effectiveness of the system and claims that it offers significant advantages.

The system offers a simple, fast, and safe hands-free connection and disconnection process, eliminating the need for manual handling. The free-floating structure also offers effective tension control, catenary management, and single-point mooring.

Parkwind claims the system also follows the vessel’s movements, providing reliable overload protection and both automatic and manual emergency release. The system can recover and reconnect without damaging the connector or requiring cleaning, drying, or overhauling.

“We are committed to making all of our activities as sustainable as possible and this is a game changer for our maintenance vessels, which can now access green energy direct from our wind turbines as they carry out their work,” said Kristof Verlinden, Head of O&M at Parkwind.

Efficient offshore charging

The system is designed to support both Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) charging up to 2MW and Service Operation Vessel (SOV) charging up to 8MW. It can also supply offshore power to conventional vessels on standby, significantly reducing their emissions from diesel generators.

Parkwind claims the system stands out as the most cost-effective, convenient, and reliable method for providing offshore power and charging . It eliminates the need for moorings or seabed consenting and does not require dynamic subsea umbilicals.

By keeping all sensitive equipment out of the splash zone or dynamic environment, the system ensures that all components remain easily accessible for maintenance. Additionally, the absence of specialist handling vessels for maintenance further enhances its practicality and efficiency.

According to the firm, the comprehensive approach not only minimizes environmental impact but also streamlines operations, making it a groundbreaking development in offshore power supply and vessel charging.

MJR plans to integrate insights from the trials into the first commercial offshore charging system, which is scheduled for delivery in Q1 2025.