Hybrid workboat helps Scottish Sea Farms go greener
A new hybrid workboat for Scottish Sea Farms (SSF) should help the company to cut its carbon emissions.
The 15 metre catamaran
Laurence Knight can run on electric or diesel power, but with batteries capable of supporting operations for five to six hours at a time its power source will be mainly electric.
The workboat was commissioned by Mull-based boat operator Inverlussa
Marine Services from Norwegian yard Moen Marin and went into service this month on Scotland’s west coast.
Inverlussa Managing Director Ben Wilson described the delivery of the new boat as “a massive milestone”.
He added:“There are similar hybrid vessels in Norway and we thought it was the right time to introduce this technology to our Scottish customers, who are committed to lowering their environmental impact.”
SSF estimates that the new vessel will help achieve CO2 savings of around 234 tonnes a year, as well as potentially cut fuel costs by up to 50%.
The batteries have a total capacity of 244kW hours, and can drive cranes and all other energy requirements. As soon they need recharging, the boat’s two generators kick in automatically, and they can also be recharged from shore power.
With the new boat, data can be collected from the batteries for analysis back on shore to help increase efficiency.
The batteries have a typical life expectancy of 16 years and are also completely recyclable. The water used to cool the batteries is also used to help heat the boat’s four cabins.
SSF’s Regional Director for the Mainland, Innes Weir, said: “If we can operate a hybrid system that is completely electric, with generators just used for recharging batteries, we can roll it out across our estate, on the barges and other energy-rich areas we want to hybridise.”