GreenTransit - Wick Harbour green hydrogen offshore wind crew transfer vessel port demonstrator

GreenTransit is a collaborative feasibility study for the demonstration of a hydrogen fuelled crew transfer vessel (CTV) operating from Wick, Caithness, Scotland to service the 588MW Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm. CTVs are relied upon extensively for marine logistics between shore and the wind farm for the transportation of technicians and parts. The project will plan for the first real-world demonstration of a hydrogen CTV and onshore refuelling infrastructure in the UK and will be implemented by March 2025\.

GreenTransit will explore transport, storage and delivery methodology for hydrogen use in CTVs including the required infrastructure for safe and efficient operations. GreenTransit benefits from full alignment with SSE Renewables' Gordonbush Hydrogen Project that will produce and supply green hydrogen from the nearby Gordonbush onshore wind farm. GreenTransit will demonstrate all the critical innovation needed across the full hydrogen value-chain, from production to end-use, a UK first in the offshore wind vessel sector, with hydrogen replacing Marine Gas Oil.

This feasibility study will pave the way for the widespread decarbonisation of rapidly expanding offshore wind maritime emissions and be relevant to the wider UK transport and shipping sectors. In the UK, CTV numbers are estimated by ORE Catapult to increase from c100 today to 186 by 2030 and 383 by 2050\. CTVs currently contribute significantly to an estimated 284kt CO2e/year of operations and maintenance emissions.

GreenTransit brings together partners at the forefront of the offshore renewables and maritime industries currently responsible for operating more than 25 CTVs servicing over 1GW of offshore wind. This consortium has the required breadth of technical, operational, commercial and project management experience along with demonstrable access to a wide range of stakeholders. The partnership includes offshore vessels operator (SSE Renewables' Joint Venture site - Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm), a green hydrogen producer (SSE Renewables), a fuel distributor (Simpson Oils) with existing customers in the maritime sector and an established energy sector harbour authority (Wick Harbour Authority) with the expertise of the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), a research and technology organisation focussed on delivering hydrogen, energy and maritime projects.

This project team is supported by third parties Abbott Risk Consultants providing independent technical Safety, Engineering and Risk Management consultancy and from Pareto Shipbrokers - vessels experts. This will ensure that the approach taken is rigorous and focused enabling demonstration on the Beatrice windfarm by March 2025\.