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Green Marine UK’s
Project Verdant has received an ‘Approval in Principle’ (AiP) from the
global classification society RINA, marking a significant milestone in
their initiative to retrofit Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) with hydrogen
fuel cells and batteries. This project aims to reduce emissions while servicing
offshore wind farms, with potential reductions of up to 30% in CO2 and
40% in NOx emissions.
The project, funded by Innovate UK, involves collaboration with maritime
consultancy Waves Group and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). The
feasibility study for Phase 1, which focused on a preliminary design, has
confirmed the viability of using hydrogen as an alternative marine fuel,
paving the way for further design, engineering, and field testing phases.
Green Marine UK’s Managing Director, Jason Schofield, emphasised the importance
of this approval, stating it assures the safety and operational viability
of hydrogen-fueled CTVs under UK regulations. The goal is to gain insights
from the retrofitted vessels to eventually expand their fleet with new
Zero Emissions CTVs and Service Operation Vessels (SOVs).
The project’s design integrates hydrogen fuel cells with electric motors,
allowing for zero-emission operations at low speeds. Energys, a leader
in hydrogen systems and marine fuel cell generators, and Engineered Marine
Systems (EMS), contributed to the design and engineering, show-casing the
practical application of hybrid systems in reducing emissions during vessel
operation.
David Lynch, RINA UK Wind & Marine Offshore Business Development Director,
and Patrizio Di Francesco, RINA North Europe Special Projects Manager,
highlighted the significance of this AiP in ensuring robust analysis and
safety of innovative marine technologies.
The offshore support sector, projected to be worth £26 billion by 2050,
will require around 1,200 vessels to support the UK’s transition to Net
Zero. Project Verdant aims to contribute significantly to this goal by
demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of hydrogen powered vessels
in the industry.
Project Verdant also garnered industry recognition, with Roberto Tuda from
Waves Group winning the ‘Innovator Award’ at the Scottish Renewables Green
Energy Awards for his contributions. This project underscores the shipping
industry’s commitment to decarbonisation, aligning with the International
Maritime Organisation’s target to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050.
To discover unique insights about vessel
supply and demand, project development and much more, click
here.
