Danfoss Editron, a manufacturer of hybrid and electric powertrain systems for off-highway and marine markets, has secured an order from Danish shipbuilder and operator MHO-Co to deliver drivetrain systems for two hybrid crew transfer vessels (CTVs).

CTVs are used to transport technicians and other personnel to and from offshore wind farms. MHO-Co’s two CTVs, specifically designed to work in the offshore wind sector, will serve Ørsted’s Hornsea Two offshore wind farm, which will be located 55 miles off the Yorkshire coast in the North Sea when it enters operation in 2022.

Each of the CTVs will be equipped with a Danfoss Editron serial hybrid system consisting of four propulsion motors, and including DC-DC converters for the vessels’ batteries. The system will be capable of operating in either fully electric or hybrid mode.

Each 35-meter CTV will be capable of carrying 24 passengers, and will be fitted with a lounge area and eight cabins. The vessels will also have an optional offshore access system on the front deck, allowing for the safe and efficient transfer of people and cargo to offshore structures.

The vessels are to be delivered in the second quarter of 2021.

“This project, the UK’s first hybrid CTVs and some of the first anywhere in the world, will open the market for more hybrid CTVs,” said Danfoss Editron’s Marine Director Erno Tenhunen. “Previously, the size of electric motors and components were too big for CTVs. Our compact and lightweight technology has overcome this issue, and solved the challenge faced by vessel designers, shipyards and end customers. Our Editron system can easily place all hybrid propulsion components into a limited space, and it allows flexibility on battery selection, system concepts and machinery room design.”

“These two hybrid vessels naturally fit the offshore wind industry’s own focus on renewable energy, while the electric motors significantly reduce CO₂ emissions,” said MHO-Co CEO Mik Henriksen. “In fact, these new CTVs make it possible to eliminate the discharge of particles when idling.”

Source: Danfoss Editron