Electrification is the future.
The renewable energy transition is well underway and represents a key development for the subsea industry.
Bringing numerous benefits to the sector, this evolution facilitates:
- An increase in energy efficiency and vehicle reliability
- A reduction in operation and maintenance costs
- A transition to green energy sources
Here at SMD, ‘Sustainability’ is one of our core values and we remain fully committed to safeguarding the long-term future of our planet. This can be seen in our ongoing investment in electrification as we offer our clients sustainable solutions for their subsea operations.
2024: THE YEAR OF THE EV
Over the last nine months, our specialist Innovations Division has celebrated several key milestones with our pioneering range of electric vehicles (EVs) – we are particularly delighted to have sold our first Atom and Quantum EVs.
SMD Atom EV
A compact electric work class remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the Atom EV can convert 63 percent of inputted power into usable thrust performance and is suitable for IRM applications, surveys and work in the renewable sector. Representing the latest technological evolution in the e-ROV sphere, this flexible vehicle has a modular design easily optimised for the job at hand.
Earlier this month, we announced the first sale of this vehicle to Greece’s Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), the primary Greek public body undertaking marine research in the Eastern Mediterranean. With a 4,000m rated turnkey system, the vehicle will be used to undertake scientific research, service missions, and response work, during the organisation’s frequent deep-water missions.
Leonidas Manousakis, ROV Supervisor for HCMR, said: “With high-quality video production, precise navigation, and strong intervention possibilities for sampling and manipulation, SMD’s Atom EV represents a reliable, efficient and adaptable ROV system. SMD has skilfully tailored this vehicle to suit the unique requirements of our existing vessel and we look forward to using this technology for years to come.”
SMD Quantum EV
Pioneering and powerful, our Quantum EV offers superior stability, position-keeping, efficiency and reliability, increasing performance while reducing operational costs. Engineered for a wide range of subsea applications, it thrives in high currents and is perfect for heavy-duty construction, IRM, salvage and science work.
In March 2024, we sold our first Quantum EV to tier-one marine contractor, Jan De Nul Group, to be deployed to its global offshore energy projects. We are delighted to announce that the company has since placed an order for its second Quantum EV.
Speaking on this exciting collaboration, Jan Van de Velde, Director Newbuilding at Jan De Nul Group, said: “It is a pleasure to announce our continued collaboration with fellow innovator, SMD. Our attention to environment and climate is mirrored in SMD’s Quantum EV, which not only offers superior efficiency and reliability but also consumes less energy and drastically reduces the risk of oil contamination.”
Just this month, Beam (formerly Rovco/Vaarst), a leading provider of deep technology for offshore wind services also purchased a Quantum EV to support its work in the offshore renewable sector. Selected for its unparalleled agility and efficiency in high currents, this vehicle strengthens the company’s commitment to the global energy transition.
Joe Tidball, Beam’s Co-Founder & Executive Vice President for Service Innovation, said: “This investment underscores our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver superior services and drive the growth of renewable energy worldwide.”
To find out more about how these innovative vehicles could enhance your operations, check out our EV product page or contact ROV Sales Manager, John McCann.
