EnBW and bp, developers of the Morgan and Mona Offshore Wind Farm Projects in a joint venture, and Stillstrom, a pioneer and leading provider of innovative offshore charging solutions, are pleased to announce the initiation of a comprehensive feasibility study. This study assesses the operational, technical, and economic viability of integrating offshore charging solutions for Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) and Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) into the Morgan and Mona offshore wind farms – for the future enablement of electric O&M vessel operations.
The Morgan and Mona Offshore Wind Farm Projects could have a combined potential generating capacity of 3GW, which is estimated to provide enough electricity for around 3 million UK homes each year.
Offshore charging is a pioneering ocean technology that will enable and allow wind farm developers and operators to achieve an electrified and decarbonised offshore wind farm vessel operation throughout the lifetime of the wind farm by utilising electricity produced at site for an all-electric O&M operation.
The study specifically focuses on offshore charging solutions connecting and integrating to the wind farms’ offshore substations. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the operational, technical, and financial feasibility of incorporating offshore charging capabilities for SOVs and CTVs within the Morgan and Mona wind farms. The study encompasses a review of Stillstrom offshore charging solutions and focuses on two scenarios: directly from the offshore substation via hang-off solutions and from offshore charging buoys, considering the technical intricacies of each solution and vessel types.
The feasibility study commenced at the end of November 2023 and is set to be completed by the end of January 2024. The findings of this feasibility study are anticipated to play a crucial role in the further decisions to integrate offshore charging into the Morgan and Mona wind farms and align with wind farm installation campaigns.
Richard Haydock, Programme Director, UK offshore wind, bp, said: “We are excited to be collaborating with Stillstrom to assess the feasibility of integrated offshore charging solutions for our Morgan and Mona wind farms. Innovative charging solutions can play an important role in both the electrification and decarbonisation of offshore wind farm vessel operation. We look forward to seeing how these innovative solutions could help our projects deliver secure, low carbon energy to the UK and support the UK’s ambition to be net zero by 2050.”
Burkhard Römhild, Project Director at EnBW, added: “This feasibility study marks a significant milestone in our commitment to innovation within the renewable energy sector. We believe that integrating offshore charging solutions into wind farms is a progressive step towards driving the energy transition and could help support the project’s aims for net zero O&M activities.”
Kristian Borum Jorgensen, CEO of Stillstrom, said: “We are thrilled to be a part of this ground-breaking initiative with EnBW and bp. This partnership signifies a major leap forward for offshore charging and electrification in the maritime industry, showcasing the transformative potential of sustainable energy solutions. We believe that our collaboration will set new standards for environmentally conscious practices in offshore wind operations, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future.”
The next steps following this study would involve initiating a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study prior to FID and installation of offshore charging solutions in the Morgan and Mona wind farms.
 and Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) into the Morgan and Mona offshore wind farms – for the future enablement of electric O&M vessel operations.){kind=link}