A groundbreaking collaboration is underway to electrify the continental shelf with a sustainable power hub.
- Ocean-Power and SBM Offshore have partnered to assess the feasibility of a floating power hub.
- This initiative aims to incorporate carbon capture and storage to reduce emissions.
- The scheme focuses on the UK and Norwegian continental shelves.
- This project marks a significant step towards achieving 2030 CO2 reduction targets.
A significant collaboration has been established between Ocean-Power, a Norwegian floating power development company, and Dutch-based offshore systems supplier SBM Offshore. This partnership aims to assess the feasibility of a floating offshore power generation hub, which will provide electrification to the continental shelf areas of the United Kingdom and Norway.
Both companies have formalised their cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding, underlining their commitment to evaluating and potentially implementing a floating power hub. This hub, which utilises Ocean-Power’s Blue Power Hub concept, is set to deploy gas turbines paired with carbon capture and storage technologies. This innovative approach is expected to significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions in offshore power generation.
The floating power hub is designed to power offshore assets via submarine cables, providing a strategic advantage by minimising the impact on national grids. This project will focus on the vast UK continental shelf, an area rich in oil and gas resources, as well as the Norwegian continental shelf, which is four times the area of mainland Norway.
Ocean-Power articulates its ambition to become a major electricity provider for both offshore and inshore applications. Their approach includes taking on responsibilities for building, owning, and operating these facilities, thus offering its clientele access to environmentally friendly power solutions.
SBM Offshore is focused on leveraging its marine expertise to support a responsible energy transition, aiming to reduce emissions from fossil fuel production while exploring cleaner alternatives. Their joint statement with Ocean-Power acknowledged the potential for this collaboration to further offshore decarbonisation efforts, a sentiment echoed by SBM Offshore’s chief business officer, Olivier Icyk.
Erling Ronglan, CEO of Ocean-Power, emphasised the importance of this agreement in accelerating progress towards 2030 carbon reduction goals. He noted that the integration of expertise from both companies is crucial for electrifying the continental shelf without overburdening national power grids.
This partnership signifies a pivotal advancement in reducing carbon emissions in offshore energy.
