Electric Orkney
Project:
Electric Orkney
Timescale:
Project launched in October 2023. The project is funded until 2025, after which point there will be a three year unfunded vessel trial period
Funder:
This project is part of the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) scheme, funded by UK government and delivered by the UK Department of Transport via Innovate UK.
The ZEVI scheme is part of the department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206 million initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.
Project overview:
Graphic representation of the 12 person workboat hydrofoil vessel (Credit Artemis)
The Electric Orkney project aims to demonstrate the benefits of electric-powered hydrofoil workboats and passenger ferries to service some of the inter-isle routes in Orkney, supporting decarbonisation and island connectivity. The project will host a three-year trial period of the vessels to build confidence and operational knowledge. Subject to a positive trial period, there will be the possibility to continue deployment.
Under the project plan, lead partner Artemis will build and deploy two of their innovative hydrofoil vessels. The first, a 12-person workboat vessel, will connect an inner island route service. The second is a larger 24-meter vessel with the capacity to carry 50 passengers and light cargo. The larger vessel will be trialled on an outer island route around Eday, Stronsay, Sanday and Westray. With the vessels to be operated by Orkney Ferries, it is hoped the trial will demonstrate the diesel replacement opportunity for both inner and outer island routes and use cases, as well as the wider benefits of the vessel design for improved journey standards.
In conjunction with the vessels themselves, the project will design, deploy and operate shore-based, DC fast-charging infrastructure at two locations on Orkney. This includes undertaking the necessary work to incorporate the docking of the vessel and housing of the charging elements into existing space within the selected harbours.
The demonstration project will also see work around data collection to analyse operational outcomes and wider vessel performance and efficiency information during the trial period. This data will be essential to validate operations in the challenging Orkney environment, which will support the wider uptake of the technology and vessels in future, while meeting necessary regulatory and operational requirements.
EMEC role:
Working in collaboration with Orkney Ferries and Artemis, EMEC is involved in the procurement and installation of the shore-based charging infrastructure as well as the project management of the whole project.
Partners:
- Artemis Technologies (Lead partner)
- Orkney Ferries
- EMEC
