As the offshore wind industry continues to grow, so does the pressure to reduce its environmental footprint – beyond just the clean electricity it generates. While the focus has traditionally been on environmental benefits of offshore wind farms, there’s increasing recognition of the need to address the sustainability of the entire supply chain, particularly the vessels used for construction, operation, and maintenance.
The Role of Vessels in Sustainability
Emissions from wind service vessels are a significant part of the industry’s environmental impact. Given the extended operational phase of windfarms compared to their construction phase, developers and operators have a unique opportunity to drive sustainability by influencing vessel emissions over the long term.
Vessel owners, too, have a strong interest in reducing emissions – not just to meet environmental goals but to future proof their fleets in the name of competition.
As international regulations evolve, vessel owners will be required to adapt to stricter emissions standards. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a resolution to ultimately reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG) to net zero by year 2050. This coupled with potential CO2 taxation, will accelerate the shift towards cleaner technologies.
Key Operational Levers for Emission Reduction
Unfortunately, there is no clear and obvious choice of universally accepted emission-free technology as yet, with current solutions bringing their own challenges, such as being more hazardous, or imposing changes to the operational pattern of the vessel.
Therefore, it is also important to emphasize that there is great potential for emission reductions through increased operational efficiency. Here are a few practical ways to reduce emissions:
- Reduce vessel speed: lower speeds directly correlate with reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
- Optimize logistics: Better route planning minimizes unnecessary travel, cutdowns on both time and fuel.
- Reduce offshore activities: Decreasing the need for offshore operations results in fewer trips and lower emissions.
Developing the Right Procurement Strategy
As we continue to build the offshore wind infrastructure of tomorrow, the question arises: How do you address vessel procurement to meet sustainability goals?
Given the number of internal stakeholders typically involved in setting vessel specifications, it is important to create a procurement strategy that includes sustainability.
In defining such a strategy, I have generally noticed these three approaches being used:
Passive: Wait for market-driven solutions (response of first movers) and select from already proven options. Essentially, this approach accepts the minimum viable solution offered by vessel owners.
Balanced: Set clear emission and cost goals but allow vessel owners to propose the technical solutions.
Active: Invest internal resources in surveying, evaluating, and selecting the best available technologies before issuing tenders.
Each strategy has its pros and cons, and the best choice depends on the size and complexity of the procuring organization.
Part of the reason sustainability should be included in the procurement strategy is that with very few exceptions increased sustainability will increase the cost. So, by combining the discussion on sustainability ambitions with the anticipated cost implications, you reduce the risk of asking for proposals for something your organization ultimately is unwilling to pay for.
And so, the procurement strategy needs to be aligned internally in the organisation – before being released to the supply chain. It is also recommended that the internal discussion and prioritization takes place at a higher level. As illustrated above there are also emission reduction potential that are more operational than technical, and it might be that the money is better spent there.
In the construction phase of a windfarm the cross-scope alignment becomes even more relevant. You can of course reduce emissions by choosing vessels with new(er) technology, but overall, the reduction might be higher by e.g. choosing to produce components (e.g. foundations or substations) locally rather than on another continent. There are good reasons to choose either solution, the important part is to make the decision consciously and transparent.
Sustainability Versus Operational Limitations
It is for good reasons that marine diesel fuel has been successfully applied for more than 100 years in vessels globally. It is superior in almost all aspects, except that it is not renewable and creates greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is also important to evaluate and prepare for the impact of choosing a different type of fuel. As with all new technologies, you can and should expect teething issues that might impact performance and availability. Furthermore, some solutions will also impose operational restrictions that you would not see in a conventional set-up. E.g. a battery electric vessel will need time for recharging, and planning for 24/7 operations is hence not viable.
Remember the Infrastructure!
While much of the focus often falls on selecting a vessel that aligns with your sustainability goals, it’s just as critical to consider the infrastructure required to support your fuel choice—right from the start.
Unlike marine diesel, alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia, or hydrogen are not readily available in ports worldwide. Similarly, most ports are not yet equipped with the electrical capacity needed to support vessel charging infrastructure.
This challenge is even more pronounced for offshore wind operations, which are typically based in ports with limited commercial marine activity. In many cases, you may need to invest in developing or upgrading port infrastructure to ensure your vessel operations are viable and future-proof.
The Bottom Line
It is a balancing act to increase the sustainability of your offshore logistics setup. Business cases and operational expenses are constrained these years, meanwhile the pressure to deliver more sustainable solutions persists. Additionally, the focus on the topic from governments also seems to be increasing, as exemplified with the UK allocation round 7 introducing higher revenue support through a “Clean Industry Bonus” scheme.
So, finding the right balance between cost, emissions, risks and limitations requires a substantial effort to identify what works best for your company.
| FACT BOX A variety of fuels are being evaluated and utilized to replace marine diesel oil (MDO) in order to reduce vessel emissions. Here are some of the fuel types commonly discussed: Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Creates less emissions than MDO, but as a pressurized gas it is more hazardous. Still a non-renewable fossil fuel E-Methanol Methanol is already an important component of Biodiesel and can be produced from renewable sources. It is considered toxic, corrosive and more flammable than diesel. Ammonia In order to be sustainable ammonia is produced through electrolysis using renewable energy. Technical solutions to utilize ammonia as a marine fuel are still under development. Safety-wise it is highly toxic, and while emissions of CO2 are reduced, it might create issues with other greenhouse gasses. Hydrogen Hydrogen only emits water and air when used. It is, however, a highly flammable gas. It has a low energy density and must be stored under pressure and at low temperatures which adds to the hazardous profile of this fuel. Electrification Electrification is already applied in many ferries travelling short distances. Technically it can be applied, however the main challenge is that batteries are heavy making it difficult to carry sufficient capacity. As charging is time consuming – and challenging to establish – it will limit availability of the vessel. |
Thomas Fauerby is the Senior Consultant for JUMBO Consulting Group, a highly specialised advisory offering strategic services and project delivery consultancy for offshore wind, offshore transmission systems and energy island projects, covering the entire project lifecycle from early development, procurement, construction to O&M. Headquartered in Denmark, JUMBO Consulting Group’s services are founded on deep sector knowledge and delivery of contractual and commercial solutions within its core disciplines, development services, supply chain development, category-, procurement- and contract management and advisory.