MJR Power & Automation, in collaboration with Parkwind, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in marine electrification. Their pioneering offshore charging station has successfully enabled vessels to access local renewable energy at sea, marking a world-first achievement in sustainable maritime operations.
A Historic Achievement
At the Nobelwind offshore wind farm in the Belgian North Sea, the system safely transferred power to a crew transfer vessel (CTV) without disrupting the wind farm’s operations. This innovative solution, developed by MJR and deployed in collaboration with Parkwind, allows vessels to charge directly from locally generated renewable energy, setting a new standard for low-carbon water transport.
Kristof Verlinden, Head of Operations and Maintenance at Parkwind, remarked:
“We are committed to making all of our activities as sustainable as possible. This is a game changer for our maintenance vessels, which can now access green energy directly from our wind turbines as they carry out their work.”
Seamless Integration and Testing
The charging system was mobilised offshore, installed on the Nobelwind substation, and operational without any interruption to the wind farm’s operations or requirement for an outage. Its successful deployment demonstrated safe power transfer, hands-free connection and disconnection, and robust safety measures, achieving a 100% incident-free operation.
The system is designed to handle CTV charging up to 2MW and Service Operation Vessel (SOV) charging up to 8MW, offering unmatched flexibility and reliability. It can also supply offshore power to other conventional vessels on standby, significantly reducing emissions from diesel generators.
Paul Cairns, Managing Director of MJR Power & Automation, shared:
“This trial’s success is a testament to the engineering excellence of MJR and our partners, Blackfish Engineering Design and Tidal Transit, along with the vision and trust of Parkwind. MJR continues to lead the way in offshore charging systems, delivering proven capabilities that are efficient, safe, and sustainable.”
Charge Offshore Joint Venture
Building on this success, MJR Power & Automation has launched Charge Offshore, a joint venture offering cutting-edge offshore charging solutions. This venture unites expertise from:
- MJR Power & Automation: Specialists in electrical power and automation systems.
- Elsys: Experts in marine and offshore automation and software engineering.
- Blackfish: Specialists in mechanical engineering.
- Tidal Transit: Innovators in low-carbon technological solutions.
Their new product lines, Aquarius Eco (0.5MW to 2MW) and Aquarius Plus (2MW to 8MW), cater to the growing need for marine electrification. Designed for installation on turbines, substations, and floating or fixed foundations, the systems provide seamless, hands-free charging in all weather conditions.
Paul Cairns, CEO of Charge Offshore, emphasised:
“Our innovative systems represent the next evolutionary step in marine electrification. With extensive engineering expertise, Charge Offshore is redefining standards for offshore charging safety and reliability.”
Demonstrating Practical Impact
The construction of the prototype was supported by part-funding from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and Innovate UK (IUK) under the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, enabling its development and deployment. By enabling maintenance vessels to access green, locally sourced energy directly at sea, this initiative reduces greenhouse gas emissions and sets a practical example of advancing low-carbon maritime operations.
For More Information
Visit MJR Power & Automation: https://www.mjrpower.com
Visit Parkwind: https://www.parkwind.eu
Visit Charge Offshore: https://www.chargeoffshore.com