Offshore Wind Turbines Need To Be Standardised, Energy Transition Industrialised To Reach Targets, Says Siemens Energy VP For Western Europe
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Governments need to move from talking about policies to implementation, the offshore wind industry needs to employ standardisation, and clear rules and regulations need to be set for green hydrogen in order to move faster with large-scale deployment and achieve meaningful progress in limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The guy has a point, as mass production of anything is generally more efficient and creates more units in a given time.
But can a diverse group of politicians, agree on a standard for turbines, fixed foundations, floaters, cables and sub-stations and then make sure all are identical and clip together like Lego? I doubt it!
And how would you fit innovative designs like TwinHub into a standard.
This image shows one of their TwinHub turbine installations being towed into place.
At least it could be built to hold two standard turbines.
Crown Estate Accelerates Celtic Sea Floating Offshore Wind Surveys
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
The Crown Estate has announced the awarding of the first contracts for its first major investment in surveys to help with the construction of floating offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea.
These two paragraphs describe the contracts.
Contracts have now been signed for the initial phase of metocean surveys, which look at wind, wave, and current patterns, to begin in Spring 2023. The Crown Estate is progressing the procurement of the remaining surveys over the coming weeks and months, subject to further commercial discussions.
By investing in these surveys at an early stage and making the data freely available to successful bidders, the Crown Estate is aiming to accelerate the delivery of the projects, making it easier for developers to take early decisions and manage risk while supporting future project-level Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) as part of the planning process.
It looks like a good idea to me, as it could make the bidding process much quicker and bidders with special expertise may be able to get contracts more suited to their expertise.
UK and NSEC Strengthen Offshore Renewables Ties
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Members of the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC), the UK, and the European Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen their cooperation for the development of offshore renewable energy.
The article is based on this article on the European Commission web site, which is entitled North Seas Energy Cooperation And UK Establish Cooperation Framework To Facilitate The Development Of Offshore Renewable Energy.
The full signed text is also in this document on the web site, which is entitled Memorandum of Understanding on offshore renewable energy cooperation.
I have read the MoU and it seems a sensible document for one with eleven signatures.
It lists the following areas of cooperation.
- Hybrid and joint projects
- Maritime and spacial planning
- Support framework and finance
- Best practice in respect of onshore and offshore grid practice
- Sharing of information on new technologies
- Exchange of best practices in relation to the relevant rules, regulations and technical standards
The MoU expects any problems to be resolved by consultations in good faith.
Hyperbat In Multimillion-Pound Deal To Supply Battery Packs For Lotus Supercar
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times.
Lotus or supercars for that matter, will not be a big market for battery packs, but they will be a high-profile one. The article in The Times may well flush out a few good sales leads from companies who want to decarbonise their products.
Many years ago, I did a consultancy job for Cummins, where my software was used to look for faults in their engine testing system. One of their engineers explained to me that they had a sales and production philosophy that could handle all markets from the large down to small niche ones. He said that we can’t tell which niche markets are going to be successful.
In the last couple of years Cummins have embraced hydrogen very strongly and it looks like they are adopting a similar philosophy.
So in the Cummins engine business model, it looks like the niche market is important.
I suspect that what goes for the diesel engine market will also go for the electric transmission market, with niche markets being nicely profitable and an important part of sales.
It looks to me that Hyperbat are going for that market, backed up by the engineering and battery experience of Williams Advanced Engineering and the manufacturing knowledge and logistics of Unipart.
Note that Williams Advanced Engineering is now owned by Australian billionaire; Andrew Forrest, through his company; Fortescue Future Industries. I wrote about this purchase in Fortescue Buys Williams Engineering In Major Push Into High Performance Batteries.
On the Hyperbat web site, this is said about their manufacturing facility.
The facility is about to double in size to meet current needs, with plans to double again in the next 2 years.
The factory is based on the site of a former exhaust plant and reintroduces manufacturing to the area, with an environmentally sustainable future.
Capacity of the factory is approximately 10,000 packs per year.
I;m sure the company, has enough backing for a very successful future.
ERM To Lead EIA For Salamander Floating Project Offshore Scotland
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
A joint venture (JV) between Simply Blue Group, Ørsted, and Subsea7 has selected ERM Group company MarineSpace to lead the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for its Salamander floating offshore wind project in Scotland.
Note.
- The Salamander floating offshore wind farm is going to be a 100 MW wind farm 35 km. North of Peterhead.
- It is likely to be a pathfinder, in the development of new facilities to build wind farm structures and components in the North of Scotland.
- I talked about the floaters in Ocergy Floaters Selected For 100 MW Project Off Scotland.
- I suspect that it could be an INTOG project.
Salamander seems to be progressing at a decent pace.
Electrolyser System To Linde For Green Hydrogen Production In Niagara Falls, New York
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Cummins.
This is the first paragraph.
Cummins Inc. will supply a 35-megawatt (MW) proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system for Linde’s new hydrogen production plant in Niagara Falls, New York. Once commissioned, Cummins’ electrolyzer system will power Linde’s largest green hydrogen plant in the U.S., marking significant progress in moving the green hydrogen economy forward.
Note.
- The electrolyser will be powered by hydroelectricity.
- Linde have a strategic investment in iTM Power, who are a British manufacturer of electrolysers.
- ITM Linde Electrolysis is a joint venture between iTM Power and Linde.
Why did Linde choose Cummins over iTM Power?
Is it down to cost, delivery, politics or quality?
Edvard Grieg And Ivar Aasen Runs On Power From Shore
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Aker BP.
This is the first paragraph
The Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen production platforms on the Utsira High area in the North Sea are now operated with electric power from shore. Two gas fired turbines have been shut down, and thus we achieve a significant reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases.
This is surely the way to power offshore assets.
Offshore Wind Developers Answer Scotland’s Call For Innovation, Oil And Gas Decarbonisation
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Crown Estate Scotland has received a total of 19 applications for its Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) offshore wind leasing process.
INTOG
Note that there are two sections to INTOG.
This document on the Crown Estate Scotland web site, is entitled INTOG – Public Summary and it defines the two sections.
Innovation:
- To enable projects which support cost reduction in support of commercial deployment of offshore wind including alternative outputs such as Hydrogen.
- To further develop Scotland as a destination for innovation and technical development which will lead to risk reductions and supply chain opportunity.
Applications in this section should be no more than 100 MW in capacity.
Targeted Oil and Gas:
- To maximise the role of offshore wind to reduce emissions from oil and gas production.
- To achieve target installed capacity in a way that delivers best value for Scotland, creating supply chain opportunity in alignment with Just Transition principles.
A rough estimate is that powering rigs by using offshore wind would increase gas production by around ten percent.
The Applications
The article says this about the applications.
Of the 19 applications, ten are for the Innovation part, while nine have been submitted for the TOG element.
It is expected that up to 500 MW will be awarded to innovation projects and around 4 GW for projects looking to decarbonise oil and gas assets.
The article also lists the known bidders.
Conclusion
I believe that there is going to be some outstanding applications for leases under the INTOG scheme.
I have already written about Cerulean Winds ambitious proposal in Cerulean Winds Is A Different Type Of Wind Energy Company, which could result in 6 GW of wind turbines installed amongst the oil and gas fields to provide electricity and decarbonise the platforms and rigs.
National Ignition Facility Achieves Fusion Ignition
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced the achievement of fusion ignition at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) — a major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power. On Dec. 5, a team at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted the first controlled fusion experiment in history to reach this milestone, also known as scientific energy breakeven, meaning it produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it. This first-of-its-kind feat will provide unprecedented capability to support NNSA’s Stockpile Stewardship Program and will provide invaluable insights into the prospects of clean fusion energy, which would be a game-changer for efforts to achieve President Biden’s goal of a net-zero carbon economy.
BBC Radio Five is giving the story a high profile.
The breakthrough is also featured in this article on The Telegraph, which is entitled Nuclear Fusion: Scientists Announce Major Breakthrough That ‘Could Bring Limitless Clean Energy’.
I am 75 and ever since my teens there have been regular stories about limitless fusion energy.
But the history of nuclear fusion seems to be a continuing tale of one step forward and four steps back.
I can remember ZETA at Harwell, being announced with a similar fanfare in 1957.
DEME Returns To Scotland, Announces Offshore Wind Industry Firsts
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
DEME has won the contract to install foundations at the 882 MW Moray West wind farm offshore Scotland.
The industry firsts are described in these paragraphs.
In an industry breakthrough, the Moray West project will be the first time XXL monopiles will be installed in the winter period, and DEME will deploy its double-staged, motion-compensated pile gripper, the company said.
Moray West will also be the first time a vibro-hammer is being utilised for the XXL monopiles to overcome weaker soil layers.
Note.
- The water depth at Moray West wind farm is 35-54 metres, which necessitates the XXL monopiles.
- Working offshore in winter can be challenging.
- DEME’s gripper sounds just like what the engineers wanted.
This is just like with North sea oil and gas, where everything got bigger and more capable over time. But it did speed construction!
The Anonymous Widower 