Parkwind Installs World-First Offshore Green Energy Charging System At Sea

Parkwind has installed the world’s first offshore green energy charging station for vessels developed in collaboration with UK-based MJR Power & Automation.

The innovative system installed at the Nobelwind wind farm in the Belgian North Sea enables maintenance vessels to use locally supplied renewable electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging low-carbon water transport.

The Nobelwind wind farm, located 47 kilometers off the coast, is Parkwind’s third offshore project. It has 50 turbines spread over 19.8 km² and generates enough power for almost 190,000 households.

The Head of Operations and Maintenance at Parkwind, Kristof Verlinden, stated that they are committed to making all their activities sustainable.

The charging system designed for both Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) charging up to 2MW and Service Operation Vessel (SOV) charging up to 8MW was transported and assembled on-site in two days.

The trial demonstrated the system’s ability to safely transfer electricity from the wind farm to the vessels without disrupting the farm’s operations.

The process was executed successfully without failures, mishaps, or component damage.

Video Credits: Parkwind/LinkedIn

The technology allows vessels to connect to the charging cable and remain in place despite sea currents due to its hands-free connection and disconnection process.

The system has effective tension control, catenary management, single-point mooring, overload prevention, and emergency release features to provide safe and efficient power transmission.

The managing director of MJR, Paul Cairns, emphasized the importance of this trial, partly funded by The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership and supported by the UK Department of Transport’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.

Cairns commended the collaborative efforts of Parkwind and MJR’s partners, Blackfish Engineering Design and Tidal Transit, adding that people may imitate them, but MJR is the pioneer and leader of ‘in air’ offshore charging systems.

The charging system’s operating performance, including free-floating capability and the absence of seabed moorings or dynamic subsea umbilicals, makes it a cost-effective and convenient solution for offshore power generation.

Furthermore, all equipment is easily accessible for repair, eliminating the need for specialized handling vessels.

The achievement is a critical step toward fully sustainable offshore operations, demonstrating Parkwind’s dedication to leading the transition to a greener future.

MJR intends to apply lessons gained from this testing to the first commercial offshore charging system delivery scheduled for Q1 2025.

Reference: ParkWind

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