Ørsted Books Second Methanol-Powered SOV at Esvagt

July 5, 2023, by Adnan Durakovic

Ørsted and Esvagt have signed an agreement for a second methanol-powered service operation vessel (SOV).

The SOV is a sister vessel to the world’s first methanol-powered SOV which is scheduled to enter service off the UK East Coast in 2024.

The second SOV will be ready for launch in 2026, where it will operate out of Ørsted’s UK East Coast Hub on a 10-year contract.

The new SOV will be powered by dual-fuel engines, capable of sailing on renewable e-methanol produced from renewable energy and biogenic carbon, which will lead to a yearly carbon emissions reduction of approximately 4,500 tonnes.

Søren Karas, Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer at Esvagt, said: ”We are delighted to expand our collaboration with Ørsted on this ground-breaking operation. As a global market leader in marine services for offshore wind, ESVAGT is deeply committed to continuously innovating to deliver lower emission solutions. We are looking forward to bringing the first methanol powered SOVs to the market.”

An offshore wind farm already has 99 per cent lower emissions than a coal-fired power station seen over the entire lifetime of the asset, including production, construction, and installation, Ørsted said. The company targets to become carbon-neutral in its energy generation and own operations by 2025, and the additional, second green fuel SOV will build on that, as Ørsted works towards its science-based target of reaching net-zero emissions across the full value chain by 2040.

Mark Porter, Head of Operations Europe at Ørsted, said: ”As the world leader in offshore wind, Ørsted will continue to look for the best green alternatives to fossil fuels. E-methanol is a strong match for our SOVs, and we’re very pleased that we, along with ESVAGT, will soon welcome the second methanol-powered vessel to our fleet.”

Ørsted expects to supply its own methanol for both of the SOVs. Over the past two years, Ørsted has built up a portfolio of green fuel projects, three of which focus on producing e-methanol for maritime transport. The portfolio includes FlagshipONE in Sweden, which is under construction, and which will produce 50,000 tonnes of e-methanol per year from 2025. Additional projects include ‘Project Star’ on the US Gulf Coast, which will supply 300,000 tonnes of e-methanol for A.P. Moller – Maersk’s fleet of zero-emissions vessels, and the ‘Green Fuels for Denmark’ project in Copenhagen, where Ørsted is working with major Danish players in heavy transport, including shipping.