Project to deliver world’s first offshore charging station within a UK wind farm

Project leaders Oasis Marine have partnered with Turbo Power Systems, Verlume, and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult to deliver the Offshore Charging Station, which has been awarded a share of the Department for Transport and Innovate UK’s £60m Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) grant funding.

During the two-year project, offshore charging infrastructure will be developed for charging hybrid and electric crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and will be demonstrated over two phases.

The first phase will prove the transfer of power utilising Verlume’s battery and intelligent energy management technology, to charge a vessel via Oasis’ Power Buoy while at sea.

During the second phase the project will work with Vattenfall on technical and regulatory developments, aiming to lead to an on-turbine demonstration at their European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in Aberdeen Bay. 

AC power generated by the existing wind turbines will be supplied via Turbo Power Systems high power charging solution to the Oasis Power Buoy. During the demonstration a hybrid CTV will operate from Aberdeen Harbour to the wind farm, then connect and recharge from the Oasis Power Buoy whilst waiting in field as maintenance technicians work on the turbines.