Innovate UK invests £20m to launch first electric service operation vessels

The UK’s national innovation agency Innovate UK has awarded £20m (US$25m) to a UK consortium to build what will reportedly be the first large service operation vessels (SOVs) capable of running with zero emissions.

These battery-powered vessels will be designed for the offshore wind industry and are expected to be at sea by 2028. Plans for the vessels, which will be operated by Bibby Marine, include a power unit of up to 20MWh, which with in-field charging will make it capable of completing a two-week operational cycle on zero-emission electricity and fully rechargeable at the Port of Aberdeen.

The project is led by Bibby Marine with the Port of Aberdeen, Shell, ORE Catapult, DNV and Kongsberg and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) School of Engineering as research partners. According to Innovate UK, this consortium may be the catalyst to bring major shipbuilding back to the UK. The partners have asserted that up to 300 SOVs will be needed by 2050 for the offshore wind industry alone; currently, none are electric.

“The offshore wind industry is particularly keen to have sustainable ships supporting sustainable energy generation,” explained Dr Musa Bashir, reader in marine and offshore engineering at LJMU, who is leading the research and data analysis on the project. “Marine shipping accounts for around a quarter of global nitrogen oxide emissions, 9% of sulfur oxides and 3.5% to 4% of all greenhouse gas emissions.”

Dr Bashir – who is currently working on another Innovate UK (CMDC R3) funded project to demonstrate the conversion of a diesel crew transfer vessel (RV Princess Royal) to electric with a hydrogen range extender – commented that to design and build a large offshore ship from scratch is a different prospect entirely. He said, “We’re looking at a 90m ship with nearly 100 people on board. That will take some propelling but it will also make huge savings in emissions – 10,000 tons of carbon in its lifetime.”

Nigel Quinn, CEO of Bibby Marine, stated, “The vessel will be a game-changer for our industry, supporting its ambitions to turn the UK into the world’s number-one center for green technology. It will be the largest vessel to date capable of running truly zero emissions. This goal points to improvements in air quality near ports, better water quality, noise reduction and the creation of a knowledge-sharing platform for future clean maritime projects. We are excited to work with our partners to launch the world’s first e-SOV – the first new vessel for Bibby Marine in five years. This project is the natural progression of our decarbonization journey, which began in 2019, to find the right solution to achieve our net zero goals. Designed in the UK, the vessel will be a game-changer for our industry, supporting its ambitions to turn the UK into the world’s number-one center for green technology, create jobs and accelerate our path to net zero by harnessing the best of British technologies.”

Baroness Vere, the UK’s Maritime Minister, added, “As a seafaring nation, it is in our national character to push nautical limits, and this funding will help to ensure the UK maintains its position at the leading edge of maritime innovation.”

Professor Mark Power, the vice chancellor and CEO of LJMU, concluded, “As the country’s first nautical college, LJMU is proud to continue to support research and innovation in the regional and global maritime industries. The development of electric vessels is an important element of maritime decarbonization and net zero, which is crucial for the industry’s future.”

Read more of the latest battery technology updates from the electric and hybrid marine technology industry, here.