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Electrifying the offshore market
The world is changing. We’re rapidly moving away from fossil fuels as our main source of energy. The offshore market has an import role to play in delivering alternatives but it also has to lead by example. Today, hydraulics is the technology of choice to provide enough power for the motion control that is often required in offshore installations. But the traditional hydraulic solutions are being challenged by upcoming new technologies.
Hydraulics is the traditional choice for the offshore industry because of its high power density. No other technology can generate that much force with such a compact footprint. In offshore installations and on ships, where space is limited, that is an absolute trump card. In the past the lack of energy efficiency of hydraulics solutions was always ignored. But not anymore. “The offshore industry is on course to a more sustainable way of working. Biode-
gradable oils already set the tone in new installations to avoid damage to the environment in case of spills. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Hydraulic and electric technology will be much more combined and work together in so-called hybrid solutions”, says Stijn Schacht, technical director of Vydraulics. The Belgian company, headquartered in Dadizele offers innovative and cost-effective ready-to-use motion solutions and pump systems for the
offshore industry. With experience in dozens of projects under its belt, it may call itself one of the pioneers in developing hybrid and electric alternatives for pure hydraulic movement. Hybrid solutions that pump up energy efficiency The first step towards a more electrical future is hybrid systems. Vydraulics already moved past the proof of concept stage and launched several servo-hybrid cylinders that are being used in the offshore market as we
