The 8 MW Offshore eCharger will enable fully electric Service Operation Vessels to recharge directly at offshore wind farms, supporting the decarbonisation of offshore operations
Stillstrom by Maersk has been selected by the European Union’s (EU) Innovation Fund to build and install the first commercial offshore charging system for fully electric Service Operation Vessels (eSOVs) operating at offshore wind farms.
The project is among 77 initiatives selected for support under the EU’s Innovation Fund, one of Europe’s largest funding programmes for innovative low-carbon technologies. Successful projects will share approximately €3.4 billion in funding, financed through revenues generated by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
The eCharger is designed to save more than 5.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually, while cutting fuel costs for operators, strengthening offshore wind logistics and opening new markets for electric ships.
SOV operations typically account for 15–20% of the total greenhouse gas emissions across the lifecycle of an offshore wind farm. By replacing marine gas oil with electricity delivered directly from the wind farm, eSOVs offer the potential to almost entirely eliminate these service-vessel-related emissions.
“The real significance of this award lies in what it says about the direction of the market. By securing this investment and endorsing our Offshore eCharger programme, it signals to vessel operators and wind farm developers that offshore charging infrastructure is moving from an emerging concept towards a technically and commercially viable solution for the industry.This is about taking offshore power and charging out of the test phase and into commercial operation at a working wind farm. It represents an important step towards making offshore charging a practical and scalable solution for the industry. Being selected for support from the EU Innovation Fund is an important recognition of the technology’s potential and the role it can play in accelerating the decarbonisation of offshore operations.” – Kristian Borum Jørgensen, CEO at Stillstrom
The 8 MW charger is a first-of-a-kind system, built from components supplied by proven manufacturers and designed for safe, reliable, independently qualified operation.
Stillstrom has been developing its pioneering offshore power and charging solutions since 2019. With offices in Copenhagen and Aberdeen, the business is dedicated to support the decarbonisation of the maritime sector.
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