Vestas has launched a programme to trial what is claims is the “world’s first” hydrogen-powered offshore service vessel at the Norther Wind Farm.
It is collaborating with Windcat Workboats to explore how the hydrogen-powered crew transfer vessel (CTV) can help reduce carbon emissions from its offshore service operations.
The CTV is powered by a dual-fuel solution, capable of being powered by hydrogen and marine gas oil.
Carbon emissions associated with offshore operations currently account for around one-third of Vestas’ Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
The new CTV is said to hold the potential to help save 158 tonnes of carbon emissions – 37% less in comparison to a traditional vessel.
Christian Venderby, Executive Vice President, Service, Vestas said: “Hard to abate sectors, such as shipping, will be the final frontier in our global journey towards decarbonisation. Hydrogen is a crucial technology to advance this journey, which is why Vestas is eager to test its potential to reduce emissions from our service operations.
“A broader application of decarbonising technologies can only progress with support from industry leaders, which is why Vestas is proud to be driving this pilot.”
The pilot, which will run until the end of 2022, will enable Vestas to explore the most scalable approaches to incorporate hydrogen into its operational setup, with its goal to collect insights into the opportunities and limitations of hydrogen-powered vessels in daily operations.
Willem van der Wel, Managing Director of Windcat Workboats added: “This vessel, developed with our sister company CMB.TECH, offers the industry a cost-effective solution to significantly reduce emissions from service vessels, which can be applied to any wind farm today.
“By using dual fuel combustion engines, we can make hydrogen technology operational in the industry and kick-start further development of the technology, regulation, supply chain, etc. Collaborations like these are what is needed to be able to scale this technology further and we thank Vestas for taking this first step.”
