Marine Renewable Energy News

An offshore hydrogen and ammonia production platform design from the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) has received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS.Developed by KRISO, the unit is designed to produce green hydrogen using electricity generated by a wind farm. Among the features, the design consists of a desalination system that desalinates seawater and turns it into clean water, an electrolysis system that produces hydrogen by electrolyzing water…

ORPC, an marine renewable energy developer whose power systems harness the energy of free-flowing rivers and tides, has signed a contract with Shell Technology – Marine Renewable Program to initiate a Modular RivGen Power System demonstration project in the Lower Mississippi River.The collaborative project represents an opportunity to showcase how the next generation of ORPC’s hydrokinetic technology can provide predictable baseload electricity to help decarbonize onshore assets.

At the Sea Tech Week Maritime Transport conference this past September, held in Brest, France, there was no shortage of big-picture, creative ideas pertaining to maritime shipping and alternative energy.One such project, called Seaguel, was presented as part of a larger discussion on hydrogen (H2) as maritime fuel. The full session was titled “Distributing Hydrogen from Offshore Wind Farms as a Fuel for Ships.” The topic was developed by France Energies Marines (FEM), a public-private R&D collaborative focused on offshore renewable energy.Right now…

France-based clean hydrogen producer Lhyfe has launched the world’s first offshore renewable green hydrogen production demonstrator.The pilot was launched yesterday (September 22) in Saint-Nazaire, France, which will now begin an 18-month wind-powered pilot, as part its drive towards large-scale carbon reduction.It involves Lhyfe's new Sealhyfe 400 kg/day (1MW equivalent) green hydrogen producing electrolyser platform, which has been installed on the WAVEGEM wave energy platform developed by Geps Techno.

The global push for decarbonization in the transport sector has predictably inspired a wave of new designs for the shipping sector, including a new 'Zero-Emission Handymax Bulker' design from the hands of Eco Marine Power, a design that incorporates renewable energy solutions, electric propulsion and fuel cells.The ship design concept is known as the Aquarius Eco Handymax II and all the technologies currently encompassed in the design are either currently available or under-development.The…

While the maritime industry faces a long ‘to do’ list for the coming three decades, Hiroaki Sakashita, CEO, ClassNK, sees decarbonization as the definitive trend that will most dramatically impact the design, construction and life-cycle operation of ships.“It is decarbonization.”Hiroaki Sakashita, CEO, ClassNK, is definitive when asked to discuss the biggest challenge facing shipowners today. “Decarbonization will change the structure of seaborne trade, ships’ specification and design, ships’ operation, and the economic mechanism of maritime transportation.

Classification society ClassNK said it has issued an approval in principle (AIP) to Eco Marine Power for the development of a renewable energy system for ships, Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy with EnergySail.New technologies are increasingly being introduced toward the goal of decarbonizing the global shipping industry in line with the IMO's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping and to phasing them out as soon as possible. The Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy with EnergySail system utilizes a combination of renewable energy…

Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and Tidal Transit have signed a contract for another Crew Transfer Vessel for the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm, offshore France. The wind farm site is owned by Eolien Maritime France SAS.The order follows a similar order signed in December 2020, when  GE  ordered two such vessels from Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and Tidal Transit. As the first two crew transfer vessels, this third vessel will be designed by naval architect Mauric and built by French shipyard Ocea.

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) announced Dr. Tom Coolbaugh has joined the team as the Program/Facility Manager for Ohmsett – The National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility. He will have oversight of the day-to-day operations, maintenance and testing at the facility, while ensuring facility users’ needs are met.Dr. Coolbaugh recently retired after 32 years with ExxonMobil Corporation, most recently as the Technology and Advocacy Advisor in the Emergency Preparedness and Response organization.

Japanese technology company Eco Marine Power (EMP) has announced that the EnergySail, a sail-assisted propulsion and solar power device for ships, is ready for demonstration and evaluation testing in Japan.EnergySail, which is unveiled at the Onomichi Marine Tech Test Centre (MTTC) in Japan, is an upgrade of the pre-production unit and represents one of the smaller types of EnergySail that will be put into commercial service.It was manufactured by EMP’s strategic partner Teramoto Iron Works Co., Ltd. and will be used for demonstrations for potential customers and during preparations for sea trials.The patented EnergySail can be fitted…

French shipbuilder Naval Group has signed nine different memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Australian companies to manufacture its countermeasure solutions for the Royal Australian Navy in Australia.The specialist in naval defence and marine renewable energy said that its Pacific unit is proposing a breakthrough in anti-torpedo countermeasures for Australia’s submarine and surface ship programs with CANTO, the latest countermeasure generation based on Dilution/Confusion multi-effects.This breakthrough in the field of anti-torpedo defence, applies the dilution/confusion concept to defend High Value and Mission Essential Units by generating a high-level acoustic signals over 360-degree…

Japanese  marine renewable energy technology company Eco Marine Power (EMP) has  taken another step forward towards creating its multi-vendor platform for onboard ship systems by completing the integration of its Aquarius Management & Automation System (MAS) with the onboard fuel monitoring system installed on the large general cargo ship, MV Panamana, owned by Singaporean carrier Masterbulk."This world first was achieved in cooperation with KEI System Co. Ltd. (Japan) and Hoppe Marine GmbH (Germany) with additional technical services provided by Zeaborn Ship Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., who were responsible for technical ship management and crewing…

French naval defence and marine renewable energy company Naval Group launched the Suffren, the first of six nuclear submarines of the latest generation in Cherbourg, in a  ceremony presided over by the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macro.The industrial group said in a press note that this event is a key step for the Barracuda program for the benefit of the French Navy.The Suffren is the first of the Barracuda-class series, designed to replace the Rubis-class generation. Naval Group is in charge of the construction of this submarines series, including the design and construction of the ship and information systems as well as the manufacturing of the main components of nuclear boiler rooms.Hervé Guillou…

The marine renewable energy technology company Eco Marine Power (EMP) announced that its Aquarius MAS + Solar solution has been installed on the large general cargo ship MV Panamana.The  Japan-based EMP said in a press release that this installation was carried out by the ship’s crew with remote support provided by Zeaborn Ship Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and EMP from Japan.Over the next few weeks the solar power equipment will be integrated with EMP’s Aquarius Management & Automation System (MAS) and then put into service.MV Panamana is a 54, 694 metric tonne (MT) open hatch general cargo/container carrier with 2 x 70 MT gantry cranes. The ship is owned by Masterbulk Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) and was built by Oshima Shipbuilding Co.

France's Naval Group has announced the creation of its Naval Innovation Hub to promote disruptive innovation to adapt to the acceleration of innovation cycles and to the need for increased research responsiveness."Staying at the forefront of innovation is essential for competitiveness. The creation of the Naval Innovation Hub at the end of 2018 made it possible to develop new growth drivers by exploring new markets and new methods of work organisation," said a press release from the French industrial group specialised in naval defence and marine renewable energy.Its mission is to help imagine and develop the future of naval defense by rapidly transforming high-potential concepts and technologies into innovative and concrete solutions with high added value for customers…

Japanese marine renewable energy technology compan Eco Marine Power (EMP) is conducting an evaluation trial using the MgBOX fuel cell or air battery in co-operation with Furukawa Battery Co., Ltd. (Furukawa Battery) and several ship owners.These trials will help determine how this innovative emergency battery can be best stored and used on ships. Once this work is completed it is planned to make the MgBOX available for use worldwide on a variety of vessels, offshore platforms & other marine applications.The MgBOX is a small and portable emergency magnesium (Mg) air battery developed by Furukawa Battery. The MgBOX can be stored for long periods and is activated by simply adding fresh or salt water.

The French defense procurement agency “Direction Générale de l’Armement” (DGA)  signed a contract for the procurement of four new Logistic Support Ships (LSS) for the French Navy.The temporary consortium formed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Naval Group has been notified of the order for LSS and of their first six years of operational maintenance.According to a press release from the French industrial group specialised in naval defence and marine renewable energy, this order for the French Navy is part of the Franco-Italian LSS Programme led by OCCAr, the international Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation, on behalf of DGA…

In another significant move towards commercial release of the EnergySail, Eco Marine Power (EMP) announced that it has begun collaboration with ClassNK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai) to confirm design requirements and issues related to sea trials.According to a press release from the renewable energy tech company, the goal is to pave the way to the full commercial production of the EnergySail and thus complete the preparation of technologies required for the release of EMP’s Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy or Aquarius MRE solution.The patented Aquarius MRE is an advanced integrated system of rigid sails, marine-grade solar panels, energy storage modules, charging system and marine computers that will enable ships to tap into renewable energy by harnessing the power provided by the wind and sun.

CorPower and Sustainable Marine Energy join forces for a wave and tidal developer collaboration to develop and demonstrate generic foundation mooring solution to reduce cost and improve O&M methods.The 35-month UMACK (Universal Mooring, Anchor & Connectivity Kit Demonstration) project will address ocean energy affordability, survivability, reliability and installation through the demonstration of a generic anchor-foundation-mooring-connectivity system which aims to reduce capital and installation costs by up to 50%.UMACK is being funded by Scottish Enterprise and the Swedish Energy Agency with co-funding from the OCEANERA-NET COFUND (via the European Commission under Horizon 2020).UMACK brings together leading wave and tidal energy developers…

As part of the ongoing strategy to prepare its EnergySail and Aquarius MRE for commercial release, Eco Marine Power (EMP) unveiled further details of its automated control and monitoring systems. These will enable EMP’s technologies to integrate with existing ship-based systems. This will facilitate the seamless operation between EMP's renewable energy platforms with other equipment on ships including fuel flow meters.Three marine computer systems jointly developed with KEI System Ltd will be integrated to provide a robust…

Marine Hub Cornwall are on a mission to showcase the UK’s southwest coast as a world class center for marine technology and innovation. Working alongside Invest in Cornwall, which manages inward investment into the region, Marine Hub’s Operations Director, Matt Hodson, explains why he believes Cornwall is best positioned to be a global hub for the marine renewable industry.To kick off, can you give the readers a brief overview of your experience and what led you to become the…

Flintstone Technology Ltd said it has secured a contract with MODEC for its in-line tensioning and pull through connection mooring system to be deployed off West Africa.The system will be used on Tullow Oil’s Kwame Nkrumah MV21 floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel located on the Jubilee field off the coast of Ghana.The mooring system will allow the conversion of the FPSO to a spread moored configuration.The Kwame Nkrumah MV21 is installed in approximately 1,100 meters water depth on the Jubilee Field, which is one of the largest oil fields discovered offshore West Africa in the past 10 years.Earlier this month, Flintstone…

As part of its continued focus on bringing renewable energy solutions to shipping, Eco Marine Power (EMP) has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Star Bulk S.A. (Star Bulk) covering a joint study project focused on the feasibility of using EMP’s technologies on existing and new bulk carriers. The joint study between Star Bulk and EMP will cover engineering issues related to how various equipment including solar panels, batteries and other devices can be installed on existing and new ships.