PALM Charger

随着海上风电进入更深的水域，以及支持船队努力脱碳，寻求支持建设和运营的电动海洋船舶（海洋电动汽车）的充电能力受到限制。因此，在现场充电的选择变得很有吸引力，无论是在扩大范围方面，还是在提高海上电动汽车的可操作性方面，否则可能仅限于往返海岸的相对较短的运输。该项目旨在试验并推进一种实现海上充电的创新方法——PALM充电器的商业化。基于Apollo的Pull and Lock Marine连接系统，PALM充电器允许船舶从其后甲板进行一次绞车操作，连接到海上安装的充电点。该系统只需要最少的定制装备，不需要主动控制系统，也不需要人员调动。连接操作迅速而坚固。核心基础设施试验将包括为期14天的海上部署，在Orkney附近的一个系泊平台上部署一台测试台。一艘船舶将使用原型PALM充电器系统在一系列海州进行反复的连接和断开。项目目标包括：*展示海上环境中的机械连接系统*展示电气连接系统的功能*建立对船舶操作操作的理解*积累系统操作的可靠性数据*建立对监管和认证背景的理解*完善商业设计*制定营销计划和商业案例。Apollo将提供整体项目管理和工程，提供他们的原型PALM充电器系统，并发展营销计划和设计开发。欧洲海洋能源中心（EMEC）将领导测试工作，与Leask Marine合作建立一个测试台，并进行船舶连接/断开操作。作为船舶承包商，Leask marine代表着一群潜在的未来客户，告知船舶操作的实用性和市场兴趣。因此，该项目的产出将促进与对创新持开放态度的开发商的对话，同时需要可靠性证据来支持可融资性决策。虽然该项目主要以英国海上风电为用例，但国际市场的扩张将带来出口机会。海上电动汽车的海上充电也有许多其他领域的应用。

As offshore wind pushes into deeper waters and the supporting fleet strives to decarbonise, limitations are encountered in the charging capacity of electrically-powered marine vessels (marine EVs) that seek to support construction and operations. The option to recharge in the field therefore becomes attractive, both in terms of extending range, and also increasing the workability of marine EVs that might otherwise be confined to relatively short transits to and from shore.This project seeks to trial and advance to commercialisation an innovative method of achieving recharging offshore, the PALM Charger. Based on Apollo's Pull and Lock Marine connection system, the PALM Charger allows a vessel to hook up to an offshore mounted charging point in a single winching operation from its back deck. Minimal bespoke outfitting is needed, no active control systems are used and there is no personnel transfer. The connection operation is swift and rugged.The core infrastructure trials will comprise a 14-day offshore deployment of a test rig onto a moored platform off Orkney. A marine vessel will make repeated connections and disconnections using the prototype PALM Charger system in a range of seastates. Project objectives include:* Demonstrating the mechanical connection system in an offshore environment* Demonstrating the functionality of the electrical connection system* Building understanding of the vessel handling operations* Accumulating reliability data on the system operation* Building understanding of the regulatory and certification context* Refining the commercial design* Developing a marketing plan and business case.Apollo will provide overall project management and engineering, providing their prototype PALM Charger system and evolving the marketing plan and design development. The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) will lead the testing operations, working with Leask Marine to set up a test rig and undertake vessel connection/ disconnection operations. As a marine contractor, Leask Marine represent a group of potential future customers, informing the marine operational practicalities and market interest.The outputs of the project will thus advance conversations with developers who are open to innovations, while requiring evidence of reliability to support bankability decisions. While this project focuses on UK offshore wind as a use case, the international expansion of the market will present export opportunities. There are also numerous other sectors where offshore charging of marine EVs would have an application.