CADELER are working with the installation and service of offshore wind farms and have set a strong commitment to drive decarbonisation of the offshore wind value chain. Given the rise in regulatory pressures, measures that reduce onboard emissions are not just beneficial for the planet but can be seen as investments in themselves. 

In operations where there are many heavy lifts in challenging conditions, vessel design must keep a constant focus on safety.   

This often results in power generator configurations and operation patterns with less efficient engine use and higher fuel consumption per KWh produced, all to maintain the necessary safety margin for available power. This ultimately results in excessive vessel emissions.  

When focusing on energy optimisation of the offshore wind farm installation vessels, it was important for CADELER to design a power conversion solution that minimised emissions, while maintaining a high safety margin. 

CADELER have used recent years’ development in hybrid-electric solutions to design the latest generation of their ships with an optimised power conversion system, which lowers onboard emissions:  

Shore power connection: 
CADELER has equipped all new vessels with shore power capability, enabling direct electrification during port stays. This reduces well-to-wake emissions, especially as grid electricity becomes increasingly renewable. 

Battery-hybrid system combined with differentiated engine size: 
A battery-hybrid setup provides optimal power conversion through dynamic load balancing and operational support. It replaces the traditional spinning reserve, while still safeguarding against blackouts during rapid load spikes. 

Regenerative power from jacking system feeds into batteries​: 
WTG installation vessels perform frequent jacking, allowing them to capture and store part of this energy by feeding it back into the batteries. 

All the above have as much as possible been automized to run at optimal configuration, while not putting extra load on the crew 

With the increased focus on optimizing power conversion, CADELER has seen a significant improvement, comparable to older vessels.  

By using shore power connection, annual fuel consumption and emissions is expected to decrease by up to 15% annually. Optimising engine load can further reduce fuel use by up to 10%. Additionally, onboard energy consumers have been systematically assessed and improved wherever possible. 

With the additional required CAPEX, CADELER wants to demonstrate commitment to both clients and ports for the green investment and show their commitment of a 2035 net zero fleet.