Floating Fuel Depots

Project timeline

January 2023 – August 2023

Project overview

Future O&M servicing of offshore wind developments will put increasing strain on UK ports and harbours. With future developments such as ScotWind located in ever deeper waters, there is an opportunity to bring fuel delivery closer to demand.

Floating Fuel Depots for Offshore Wind studied the technical feasibility of a modular, moored floating platform concept to support the servicing and supplying fuel to decarbonised marine vessels at optimal locations, close to the construction or operational sites to optimize transit distances, reducing emissions and easing pressure on port facilities.

A costed concept design will be prepared while assessing environmental, cost and societal benefit.

The project is focused on identifying the feasibility and the potential market for offshore refuelling hubs for the maritime sector. It will also seek to identify the market opportunity as well the potential social and environmental impacts of the solution and the technical and regulatory challenges around the roll-out of hydrogen and other hydrogen derivatives as carbon-neutral fuels.

EMEC’s role

EMEC are leading on the market review and demand study, port infrastructure and regulatory environment as well as delivering a report on the socio-economic analysis of the technology.

Partners

• Apollo Engineering (Lead partner)
• EMEC
• Aquatera

Funders

Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2
Department for Transport via Innovate UK