- The PALM system of Apollo has been successfully tested for offshore EV charging in Orkney.
- The UK Department for Transport has funded the project to the tune of £800,000.
- The PALM Charger was 100% reliable in all sea conditions.
- The next phase aims to be commercially deployed by 2025/26.
The UK-based engineering consultancy Apollo has successfully carried out a round of PALM offshore charging systems for marine electric vehicles. It did this after conducting tests at Orkney, Scotland. Thus, it successfully demonstrated reliability and feasibility under real conditions offshore for full-scale deployment for commercial use.
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The trials were taken up in collaboration with Orkney-based Leask Marine and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) at the Scapa Flow test site in October 2024, funded by an £800,000 Department for Transport grant. In its plug-and-play modality, the PALM Charger enables offshore EVs and service vessels to receive remote recharging, creating possibilities for longer operational periods and reduced emissions.
During the sea trials, the PALM system of Apollo successfully closed and opened several cycles of establishment, power transfer, and disconnection under various types of sea conditions with excellent mechanical and electrical reliability at 100%. The sea-trial results also provided necessary information on marine handling with regard to the next cycle of development and system optimization.
According to Nigel Robinson, the director of Apollo’s Offshore Renewables, it was due to the success of collaboration that the trials went through successfully. “The excellent teamwork across all partners was key to the successful execution of this ambitious project,” he said. “The system’s performance puts Apollo in a position to bring a commercially viable offshore EV charging solution to market by 2025/26.”.
Managing Director at Leask Marine, Douglas Leask, noted: “We are glad to be supporting such a pioneering project that could be greatly instrumental in decreasing the environmental footprint of the maritime industry.”.
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Assistant Project Manager for EMEC, Abbie Sinclair, said it was one success of the trial and at the same time noted, “EMEC had provided power supply and system design for support to the maritime industry in its effort toward decarbonization.
With the trial completion, Apollo will tune and redesign the PALM Charger to move into the commercial phase. This is a project that embodies commitment by Apollo to sustainable innovation in the marine world, though it is also a leap ahead in offshore EV charging, with a planned commercial launch in 2025/26.
