Since officially launched in February 2023, the prototyping phase of the project is finalized. Charging tests have been conducted in port as well as testing of the offshore connection solution. Together the partners have demonstrated that the Ocean Charger is an important step towards delivering zero emission ships to the wind industry.
With a strong consortium of industry and research partners, VARD has been leading the way from research to testing, validation, and commercialization of new technological solutions for energy transfer to battery-powered ships offshore.
Charging tests have been done in port with high voltage charging of the ship`s batteries. Testing has also been done of the Ocean Charger offshore connection solution and we have demonstrated successfully that we can connect and disconnect the cable under certain conditions.
By connecting vessels to the power grid in the wind farm and charging batteries regularly, the operational availability of emission-free vessel operations will be secured. The aim is to power operations at the field without using any additional energy sources.
– The Ocean Charger project and what it represents, the ability to charge vessels offshore, is a central enabler for us as shipbuilders to deliver zero emission ships to the offshore wind industry, Håvard Vollset Lien, Vice President Research & Innovation Vard Group states.
Tested onboard Rem Power
Rem Power is the first vessel to partake in the testing of Ocean Charger project. COO in Rem Offshore Ronny Pål Kvalsvik underlines the importance of being part of this project:
– For us it is extremely important to be a part of the Ocean Charger project. We can show what we have told for years. Now we have partners bringing this along, and we can prove to the market that this is doable.
Leading the way to zero
Vard Design has led the work together with sister companies Seaonics and Vard Electro, partners Rem Offshore, Solstad Offshore, SINTEF Energi, SINTEF Ocean, DigiCat, Sustainable Energy, Equinor, Source Galileo Norge, Corvus Energy, Plug, Shoreline, Sustainable Energy, University of Bergen, Norce and Maritime CleanTech.
– We have proven that the concept can be done, so we are really proud of all the partners here and we are looking forward to the next phase, says CEO in Maritime CleanTech Ada Jakobsen.
The Green Platform Initiative
In December 2022, the Ocean Charger Concept was awarded 38 million NOK through the Norwegian Government’s support scheme The Green Platform Initiative. The Norwegian Minister of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Jan Christian Vestre, launched the new project at a press conference in Oslo: “We are carrying out the largest restructuring of the Norwegian economy ever. Everything will become greener. It is private companies that must lead the way in this transformation, with the public sector as a supporter,” Vestre said.
During Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo Europe in 2023, the Ocean Charger won the vessel charging . With a strong consortium of industry and research partners, VARD is leading the way from research to testing, validation, and commercialization of new technological solutions for energy transfer to battery-powered ships offshore.