Analysis of the use of electric drive systems for crew transfer vessels servicing offshore wind farms

Abstract

The article presents issues related to the possibility of using electric propulsion systems in units used to transport crews servicing wind towers at sea. Offshore wind energy issues are discussed. Proposals for electric propulsion systems that could be used on units for transporting crews servicing offshore wind farms are presented. The possibility of using purely electrical drive systems or hybrid drive systems operating in a diesel-electric configuration is analyzed. By observing the motion of real CTV units, based on the data from the MarineTraffic service, a mathematical simulation model was developed, for which a number of simulations were carried out in the Modelica environment. The developed mathematical model takes into account the dynamic loads acting on the ship’s hull, hydrodynamic resistances, electric and diesel propulsion systems’ properties together with their individual elements’ characteristics. The tests of the electric propulsion system showed reduced fuel consumption (approx. 60%) and harmful gas emissions to the atmosphere (approximately 70%) in relation to conventional, internal combustion engine propulsion.