Cross-industry coalition calls for offshore charging to be integrated into future wind farm feasibility assessments and CfD frameworks.
A cross-industry coalition comprising Bibby Marine, offshore wind developers, vessel operators and technology providers is calling for urgent action to accelerate the decarbonisation of offshore wind operations through offshore vessel electrification and charging.
In a newly released position paper, the coalition outlines the wide-ranging benefits of electrified offshore operations and urges government and regulators to remove barriers currently restricting the development of offshore charging infrastructure.
The paper recommends that offshore charging infrastructure should be included as a requirement within feasibility assessments for all new offshore wind farm developments. According to the coalition, embedding offshore charging at the early design stage will help drive standardisation across the sector, streamline development processes and reduce long-term procurement costs.
The paper highlights offshore charging, where vessels draw renewable power directly from wind farms, as one of the most promising and cost-effective solutions for reducing emissions from offshore support vessels. While the technology has matured significantly in recent years, the report finds that the key barriers to deployment are no longer technical, but regulatory, commercial and operational.
Vessel operations currently account for a significant proportion of offshore wind lifecycle emissions, making them a critical focus for decarbonisation efforts. Offshore charging offers a viable path to zero-emission operations, while requiring only a minimal proportion of a wind farm’s electricity output.
The paper sets out three key recommendations to accelerate commercial adoption:
- Integrate offshore charging into early-stage wind farm development
- Clarify and enable commercial access to offshore electricity
- Deliver a full-scale offshore charging demonstrator
Gavin Forward, New Build Fleet Director at Bibby Marine, said: “The technology to enable offshore charging is already here. The challenge now is creating the right regulatory and commercial environment to bring it into widespread use. By addressing these barriers, we can unlock a practical and scalable route to decarbonising offshore wind operations.”
Bibby Marine is playing a leading role in this transition through its development of the world’s first electric Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (eCSOV), reinforcing its commitment to driving innovation and delivering sustainable solutions for the offshore wind sector.
The position paper has been developed collaboratively by organisations across the offshore wind value chain, demonstrating strong industry alignment on the need to move from demonstration to deployment.
The industry is now urging policymakers, developers and stakeholders to act on the recommendations to ensure offshore charging can play a central role in achieving net zero targets.
