Bringing batteries to vessels servicing the offshore wind industry

Vessels servicing the offshore wind industry must meet ever-higher standards for environmental protection, limiting emissions and improving overall sustainability. To aid in complying with such strict regulations, service operation vessels (SOV) have been some of the first offshore wind service vessels to integrate batteries onboard.

Vessels supporting the offshore wind industry, including SOVs, crew transfer vessels (CTV), and wind turbine installation vessels like crane vessels and jack-up vessels, are good candidates for battery power.

As ships supporting the offshore wind industry, they must be part of a fully sustainable supply chain, operating with minimal emissions to reduce their environmental footprint. These vessels also have a wide range of energy needs that battery power can fulfill by offering a clean power source. In addition, for SOVS – many of which are equipped with Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems – batteries can help them maintain their position and comply with DP redundancy requirements.

Battery-powered ships in action

Following in the wake of pioneering ships, a variety of offshore vessels have had batteries installed recently, showcasing the advantages of electrification for these assets. World Marine Offshore recently took delivery of two hybrid-electric CTVs, World Levante and World Terral, built by Assens Shipyard in Denmark.

Another hybrid-electric CTV, the CWIND Pioneer, will begin operations for Ørsted in the Netherlands this year. Jan de Nul currently has a hybrid battery-powered crane vessel, Les Alizés, under construction. And Louis Dreyfus Armateurs’ groundbreaking, hybrid battery-powered SOVs for Danish owner Ørsted, Wind of Hope and Wind of Change, the latter of which will begin operations this year.

Battery-powered SOVs thus provide a strong model for other ship types looking to integrate batteries onboard. Much like SOVs, cruise and expedition ships often, need to be able to operate in low emissions mode. Another segment weighing battery integration is tugboats, which also have a wide range of energy needs, vacillating between short bursts of power and periods of idling.

Safety and compliance for battery-powered ships

Bureau Veritas provides critical and risk analysis for batteries, offering a standardized approach to risk management for SOVs and other battery-powered vessels. Our regulatory framework for battery-powered ships is regularly updated to reflect the latest technical and safety developments, and can be applied to both classed and non-classed vessels. Our experts have particular expertise in battery power for the offshore wind sector, having provided classification for all the projects noted above.

Bureau Veritas also offers several notations for battery-powered and hybrid battery-powered vessels, such as BATTERY SYSTEM, which indicates the safe installation and use of batteries for propulsion. Our ELECTRIC HYBRID notation applies to ships using a combination of diesel engines and batteries, while ELECTRIC HYBRID PREPARED is for ships designed to have batteries installed later.

Photo Credit: Jan De Nul