10070138eSOV: Electric SOV with Methanol Range ExtenderActiveCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe market for OSW (Off-Shore Wind) support vessels is growing rapidly, with between 62-149 vessels required in UK Waters by 2030. However, even best-in-class vessels currently use fossil fuel and might do so throughout their entire life costing over £17.5m in damage to the environment. All the UK-operating SOV have been built abroad. Bibby Marine (BML), alongside partners Kongsberg, Shell, DNV, Liverpool JohnMoores University (LJMU), the Port of Aberdeen (PoA) and ORE Catapult, is leading a project to build the first electric SOV (eSOV). This 90m electric vessel, would operate completely emission-free in-field and would feature a sizable battery unlike any installed on a DP vessel before, with dual-fuel methanol-powered engines as back-ups. SOV's service the wind farm industry, supporting the maintenance operations of offshore wind farms (OWF). Battery power is the natural solution for an SOV operating in an OWF - , essentially a giant power plant. The ship will be ready for offshore charging, which will give it the ability to operate fully electric, before recharging at night, therefore completing up to a full two-week cycle of in-field operations, emissions-free. For long transits, the engines will be in use and will still have a 90% reduction in emissions compared to a conventional vessel, saving the taxpayer approximately £787,500py in damage to the environment compared to a conventional SOV. The near shore operations of this vessel will be completed under battery-power only, which also reduces the impact of emissions on public health. This project uses developing technology in order operate emission-free, but we are using equipment that has already been proven in action, integrating them all together and at a scale never reached before. If offshore charging is not available,the vessel will be able to use its methanol engines to recharge the batteries,reducing emissions by 50% compared to a conventional SOV. We believe the project will also break the stalemate between the vessel and infrastructure technology, kicking off the demand for zero-emission vessels. We have a strong consortium of high-quality industry stakeholders, and we are committed to promote and re-develop British shipbuilding. We will be working alongside British shipyards and the NSO to maximise the benefits such a landmark ship will have on the industry. This project will position the UK as a pioneer in the sector and showcase UK leadership in the design and integration of battery-powered vessels.