PALM charger demonstration

Project: Pull and Lock Marine (PALM) connection system demonstration

Timescale: February 2024 – January 2025

Funder: UK Department for Transport via Innovate UK

Funding comes from the fourth round of the government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC4), which focuses on developing a range of clean maritime technologies including electric, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, wind power and more.

Funding: £779,142

Project overview

This project will trial Apollo’s PALM charging system at EMEC’s Scapa Flow test site in Orkney. Vessel operator Leask Marine will provide a CTV vessel for the trial. As offshore wind expands into deeper waters and the marine vessel fleet which supports offshore wind operations also aims to decarbonise, electrically-powered marine vessels (marine EVs) will face challenges with charging capacity to support windfarm construction and operation.

Apollo’s solution, the PALM Charger, is based on the company’s Pull and Lock Marine (PALM) connection system. It is designed to enable electric service vessels (SOVs) and other marine EVs to recharge while operating offshore for extended periods. The CMDC project aims to include a 14-day offshore deployment of a test rig onto a moored platform at EMEC’s test site. Leask Marine will provide the floating platform for the PALM system to be installed upon as well as the use of CTV vessel from their fleet, which through a sequence will simulate the connection and disconnection of the charger. The testing period will enable the project team to demonstrate the mechanical connection system in an offshore environment, explore the electrical aspects of power transfer, and refine the marine design

Project results

The trials took place within a 21 day period in October 2024, performing both quayside tests at Hatston pier and offshore tests at EMEC’s Scapa Flow test site. The technology was demonstrated in a real offshore environment with the PALM Charger successfully completing multiple connect, power, and disconnect operations under a variety of sea conditions.
The results showed high levels of reliability of the mechanical and electrical connection and provided key insights into the marine handling operations. These findings will inform the next stage of development and support final design refinements advancing the technology toward commercial readiness.

EMEC role

EMEC will provide their Scapa Flow scale test site for the offshore trials and lead the testing programme preparations and trials in collaboration with Leask Marine and Apollo. EMEC will also produce a report evaluating the trials.

Partners

• Apollo (Lead partner)
• EMEC
• Leask Marine

Related news

• October 2024: Successful trials of Apollo’s PALM charger at EMEC’s Scapa Flow test site
• January 2024: Two clean maritime projects awarded funding