The Concept Of Remote Island Wind
This document from the Department of Business, Industry and Industrial Strategy lists all the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 4 results for the supply of zero-carbon electricity that were announced yesterday.
The contracts have also introduced a concept that is new to me, called Remote Island Wind. All have got the same strike price of £46.39 per MWh.
Two of the projects on Orkney are community projects of around 30 MW, run by local trusts. This is surely, a model that will work in many places.
There is more on Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project on this page of the Orkney Islands Council web site.
It could even have an electrolyser to provide hydrogen for zero-carbon fuel, when there is more electricity than is needed. Companies like ITM Power and others already build filling stations with an electrolyser, that can be powered by wind-generated electricity.
The other Remote Island Wind projects are larger with two wind farms of over 200 MW.
It does look to me, that the Department of BEIS is nudging wind farm developers in remote places to a model, that all stakeholders will embrace.
The Viking Wind Farm
I wrote about this wind farm in Shetland’s Viking Wind Farm.
There are more details in this press release from SSE enewables, which is entitled CfD Contract Secured For Viking Energy Wind Farm.
These introductory paragraphs, give a good explanation of the finances of this farm.
SSE Renewables has been successful in the UK’s fourth Contract for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round, announced today, and has secured a low-carbon power contract for 220MW for its wholly-owned Viking Energy Wind Farm (Viking) project, currently being constructed in Shetland.
Viking’s success in securing a contract follows a competitive auction process in Allocation Round 4 (AR4) where it competed within Pot 2 of the allocation round set aside for ‘less established’ technologies including Remote Island Wind.
The 443MW Viking project, which SSE Renewables is currently building in the Shetland Islands, has secured a CfD for 220MW (50% of its total capacity) at a strike price of £46.39/MWh for the 2026/27 delivery year.
The successful project will receive its guaranteed strike price, set on 2012 prices but annually indexed for CPI inflation, for the contracted low carbon electricity it will generate for a 15-year period. Securing a CfD for Viking stabilises the revenue from the project whilst also delivering price security for bill payers.
It’s very professional and open to explain the capacity, the contract and the finances in detail.
The press release also has this paragraph, which details progress.
Viking is progressing through construction with over 50 per cent of turbine foundation bases poured. When complete in 2024, Viking Energy Wind Farm will be the UK’s most productive onshore wind farm in terms of annual electricity output, with the project also contributing to Shetland’s security of supply by underpinning the HVDC transmission link that will connect the islands to the mainland for the first time.
SSE also released this press release, which is entitled Major Milestone Reached As First Subsea Cable Installation Begins On Shetland HVDC Link, where this is the first paragraph.
The first phase of cable laying as part of the SSEN Transmission Shetland High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Link began this week off the coast of Caithness, marking a major milestone in the £660M project.
SSE seem to be advancing on all fronts on the two projects!
The Stornoway Wind Farm
This press release from EDF Renewables is entitled EDF Renewables UK Welcomes Contract for Difference Success, where these are the first two paragraphs.
Two EDF Renewables UK projects bid into the Contract for Difference (CfD) auction round held by the UK Government’s BEIS department have been successful.
The projects are the Stornoway wind farm on the Isle of Lewis and Stranoch wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway. Together these onshore wind farms will provide 300 MW of low carbon electricity which is an important contribution to reaching net zero.
The press release also gives this information about the contract and completion of the Stornoway wind farm.
Stornoway Wind Farm on the Isle of Lewis is a joint venture with Wood. The project has won a CfD for 200 MW capacity, the strike price was £46.39, the target commissioning date is 31 March 2027.
This page on the Lewis Wind Power web site, gives these details of the Stornoway Wind Farm.
The Stornoway Wind Farm would be located to the west of the town of Stornoway in an area close to the three existing wind farm sites.
The project has planning consent for up to 36 turbines and is sited on land owned by the Stornoway Trust, a publicly elected body which manages the Stornoway Trust Estate on behalf of the local community.
The local community stands to benefit as follows:
- Community benefit payments currently estimated at £900,000 per annum, which would go to an independent trust to distribute to local projects and organisations
- Annual rental payments to local crofters and the Stornoway Trust – which we estimate could total more than £1.3m, depending on the CfD Strike Price secured and the wind farm’s energy output
- Stornoway Wind Farm is the largest of the three consented wind farm projects with a grid connection in place and is therefore key to the needs case for a new grid connection with the mainland. Indeed, the UK energy regulator Ofgem has stated that it will support the delivery of a new 450MW cable if the Stornoway and Uisenis projects are successful in this year’s Contract for Difference allocation round.
Note the last point, where only the Stornoway wind farm was successful.
The Uisenis Wind Farm
This press release from EDF Energy is entitled Lewis Wind Power Buys Uisenis Wind Farm, gives these details of the sale.
Lewis Wind Power (LWP), a joint venture between Amec Foster Wheeler and EDF Energy Renewables has bought the Uisenis Wind Farm project on the Isle of Lewis. The wind farm has planning consent for the development of 45 turbines with a maximum capacity of 162 MW. This would be enough to power 124,000 homes and would be the biggest renewable energy development on the Western Isles.
LWP owns the Stornoway Wind Farm project located around 20km to the north of Uisenis which has planning consent to develop 36 turbines to a maximum capacity of 180 MW – enough to power 135,000 homes.
This would bring Stornoway and Uisenis wind farms under the similar ownership structures.
This is a significant paragraph in the press release.
On behalf of Eishken Limited, the owner of the site where the Uisenis Wind Farm will be located, Nick Oppenheim said: “I am delighted that LWP are taking forward the wind farm. The resources available on the Eishken estate, and the Western Isles in general, means that it is an excellent location for renewable energy projects and, as such, the company is also developing a 300MW pumped storage hydro project immediately adjacent to the Uisenis wind farm. With such potential for renewables and the positive effect they will have on the local community, economy, and the UK as a whole I am are looking forward to positive news on both support for remote island projects and the interconnector.”
Note the mention of pumped storage.
This article on the BBC is entitled Pumped Storage Hydro Scheme Planned For Lewis, where this paragraph introduces the scheme.
A pumped storage hydro scheme using sea water rather than the usual method of drawing on freshwater from inland lochs has been proposed for Lewis.
The only other information is that it will provide 300 MW of power, but nothing is said about the storage capacity.
It looks like Lewis will have a world-class power system.
Mossy Hill And Beaw Field Wind Farms
Mossy Hill near Lerwick and Beaw Field in Yell are two Shetland wind farms being developed by Peel L & P.
This press release from Peel L & P is entitled Government Support For Two Shetland Wind Farms, where these are the first two paragraphs.
Plans for two onshore wind farms on the Shetland Islands which would help meet Scotland’s targets for renewable energy production are a step closer to being delivered after receiving long-term Government support.
Clean energy specialists Peel NRE has been successful in two bids in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme; one for its Mossy Hill wind farm near Lerwick and the other for Beaw Field wind farm in Yell.
It looks like the two wind farms will power 130,000 houses and are planned to be operational in 2027.
Conclusion
I must admit that I like the concept. Especially, when like some of the schemes, it is linked to community involvement and improvement.
Only time will tell, if the concept of Remote Island Wind works well.
Octopus Energy On Xlinks
Today, Octopus Energy published a web page, which is entitled Backing Cheaper, Greener Energy Globally, giving more details of the Xlinks project.
I first wrote about the tie-up between Octopus Energy and Xlinks in Xlinks Welcomes New Investor Octopus Energy In Providing Cheap Green Power To Over 7 Million Homes.
Points made in the page on the Octopus web page include.
- The project will cover over 570 square miles in Morocco with 7GW of solar and 3.5GW of wind generation alongside a 20GWh battery storage facility.
- This green energy powerhouse will be connected to the UK via 2,361 miles of HVDC subsea cables.
- The cables will be built with British steel in a new factory in Hunterton, Scotland.
- It also appears that the site of the project has been chosen to optimise energy collection.
This project appears to be excellently-thought out to bring large benefits to all stakeholders.
Rolls-Royce To Develop mtu Hydrogen Electrolyser And Invest In Hoeller Electrolyser
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Rolls-Royce.
These are the three main points in the press release.
- Holdings in start-up companies in northern Germany secure Rolls-Royce Power Systems access to key green hydrogen production technology.
- Electrolysis systems for several megawatts of power.
- First demonstrator in 2023 using a Hoeller stack.
This is the introductory paragraph to the deal.
Rolls-Royce is entering the hydrogen production market and acquiring a 54% majority stake in electrolysis stack specialist Hoeller Electrolyzer, whose innovative technology will form the basis of a new range of mtu electrolyzer products from its Power Systems division. Hoeller Electrolyzer, based in Wismar, Germany, is an early-stage technology company that is developing highly efficient polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) stacks, under the brand name Prometheus, for the cost-effective production of hydrogen.
This page on the Hoeller Electrolysis web site gives details of Prometheus.
- Hoeller are planning small, medium and large electrolyser modules, the largest of which is rated at 1.4 MW.
- Load changes of between 0 and 100 % within seconds.
- Cold start capability.
- It will produce 635 Kg/day.
- They are talking of a cost of 4€/Kg.
It all sounds good to me.
This paragraph is from the press release.
Founded in 2016, Hoeller Electrolyzer has positioned itself, with Prometheus, as one of the few highly specialized expert players in the field of high-efficiency PEM electrolysis stacks. Its founder, Stefan Höller, has more than a quarter of a century’s experience of developing electrolysis technology and has already registered 14 patents connected with Prometheus. Particularly high efficiency is promised by special surface technologies for the bipolar plates which significantly reduce the use of expensive precious metals platinum and iridium as catalysts, as well as increased output pressure.
I know a small amount about electrolysis and feel that Rolls-Royce may have got themselves a high-class deal.
Rolls-Royce’s large German presence in companies like mtu, will also help to smooth any doubts about the deal.
This paragraph indicates a shared belief.
Rolls-Royce and Hoeller Electrolyzer are united by a shared belief in the opportunity of zero-carbon energy – both for power supply and the propulsion of heavy vehicles. With decades of experience and systems expertise, Rolls-Royce is going to develop a complete electrolyzer system and has a global sales and service network, which opens up the potential for significant worldwide sales.
But perhaps, this is the most significant paragraph of the press release.
Armin Fürderer, who heads up the Net Zero Solutions business unit of Power Systems, said: “We’re going to launch electrolyzers with several megawatts of power right from the start. A total output of over 100 megawatts is conceivable by combining several electrolyzers.”
A quick search of the Internet, indicates that 100 MW is the size of the world’s largest electrolysers.
Applications
I can see applications for these large electrolysers.
Rolls-Royce Power Systems
This is a sentence from the press release.
Hoeller Electrolyzer, whose innovative technology will form the basis of a new range of mtu electrolyzer products from its Power Systems division.
The Rolls-Royce Power Systems web site, has this mission statement.
The Power Systems Business Unit of Rolls-Royce is focused on creating sustainable, climate neutral solutions for drive, propulsion and power generation.
In Rolls-Royce Makes Duisburg Container Terminal Climate Neutral With MTU Hydrogen Technology, I describe one of Rolls-Royce Power Systems projects.
The title of this post, is the same as this press release from Rolls-Royce.
This is the first sentence.
Rolls-Royce will ensure a climate-neutral energy supply at the container terminal currently under construction at the Port of Duisburg, Germany.
There is also this Rolls-Royce graphic, which shows the energy sources.
It would appear batteries, combined heap and power (CHP), grid electricity, hydrogen electrolyser, hydrogen storage and renewable electricity are being brought together to create a climate-neutral energy system.
Note.
- The system uses a large hydrogen electrolyser.
- I suspect the hydrogen will be generated by off-peak electricity and local renewables.
- Hydrogen will probably power the container handling machines, ships, trucks, vehicles and other equipment in the port.
Hydrogen appears to be used as a means of storing energy and also for providing motive power.
I would suspect, the ultimate aim is that the port will not emit any carbon dioxide.
Other ports like Felixstowe and Holyhead seem to be going the hydrogen route.
Refuelling Hydrogen Buses and Charging Electric Buses
If you look at the Duisburg system, I can imagine a similar smaller system being used to refuel hydrogen buses and charge electric ones.
- The hydrogen electrolyser would be sized to create enough hydrogen for a day or so’s work.
- Hydrogen would be generated by off-peak electricity and local renewables.
- If an operator bought more buses, I’m certain that the architecture of the electrolyser would allow expansion.
- Hydrogen fuel cells would boost the electricity supply, when lots of buses needed to be charged.
- Any spare hydrogen could be sold to those who have hydrogen-powered vehicles.
- Any spare electricity could be sold back to the grid.
It should be noted that manufacturers like Wrightbus have developed a range of hydrogen and electric buses that use the same components. So will we see more mixed fleets of buses, where the best bus is assigned to each route?
I have used buses as an example, but the concept would apply to fleets of cars, trucks and vans.
Green Hydrogen
Large efficient electrolysers will surely be the key to producing large quantities of green hydrogen in the future.
It appears that about 55 MWh is needed to produce a tonne of green hydrogen using existing electrolysers.
The Hoeller electrolyser appears to be about 53 MWh, so it is more efficient.
Green Hydrogen From An Onshore Wind Farm
If you look at the average size of an onshore wind farm in the UK, a quick estimate gives a figure of 62 MW. I shouldn’t expect the figure for much of the world is very different, where you ignore the gigafarms, as these will distort the numbers.
An appropriately-sized electrolyser could be added to onshore wind farms to provide a local source of hydrogen for transport, an industrial process or a domestic gas supply for a new housing estate.
A single 5 MW wind turbine with a capacity factor of around 30 % would produce around 680 Kg of green hydrogen per day.
Green Hydrogen From An Offshore Wind Farm
There are basic methods to do this.
Put the electrolyser onshore or put the electrolyser offshore and pipe the hydrogen to the shore.
I think we will see some innovative configurations.
In ScotWind N3 Offshore Wind Farm, I described how Magnora ASA are developing the ScotWind N3 wind farm.
The floating turbines surround a concrete floater, which in the future could contain an electrolyser and tankage for hydrogen.
The ScotWind N3 wind farm is designed to be a wind farm rated at 500 MW.
I can see an electrolyser on the floater, of an optimal size to make sure all electricity is used.
Pink Hydrogen
Pink hydrogen, is zero-carbon hydrogen produced using nuclear-generated electricity.
There are industrial processes, like the making of zero-carbon chemicals, concrete and steel, that will require large quantities of zero-carbon green or pink hydrogen.
Rolls-Royce are developing the Rolls-Royce SMR, which will be a 470 MW small modular nuclear reactor.
One of these placed near to a steel works and coupled to one or more 100 MW electrolysers could provide enough zero-carbon electricity and hydrogen to produce large quantities of zero-carbon green steel.
Manufacturing
Rolls-Royce and their subsidiaries like mtu, seem to be extensive users of advanced manufacturing techniques and I would expect that they can improve Hoeller’s manufacturing.
Research And Development
The press release says this about the founder of Hoeller.
Its founder, Stefan Höller, has more than a quarter of a century’s experience of developing electrolysis technology and has already registered 14 patents connected with Prometheus.
If Rolls-Royce can develop and support Stefan Höller and his team, development could easily go to a higher level.
Conclusion
I think that Rolls-Royce have taken over a company, that will in the end, will design excellent efficient electrolysers.
Namibia Proposes Green Hydrogen Supply To EU To Replace Russian Oil And Gas
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on H2 Fuel News.
These paragraphs explain the plan.
The African country has considerable wind and sunshine resources available, providing the opportunity to use renewable energy for the production of H2. Namibia is located along the African South Atlantic coastline and is among the world’s driest countries. Its 3,500 hours of sunshine per year mean that solar panels will be able to absorb a tremendous amount of energy, without much unexpected downtime.
That energy will be used for producing yellow H2, a form of green (renewable) H2 made using electrolysers powered by solar electricity. The electrolyser will split seawater, another abundant resource for the country due to its position on the map. As a result, it has the potential to offer the European Union a clean fuel source that can help it to simultaneously combat the energy crisis and the climate crisis.
Note.
- Liquid hydrogen will be shipped to Europe by tanker.
- I don’t think Vlad the Mad will like the plan!
- How many other countries have the resources like Namibia to become hydrogen exporters?
This plan was proposed at the World Economic Forum at Davos.
Xlinks Welcomes New Investor Octopus Energy In Providing Cheap Green Power To Over 7 Million Homes
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Xlinks.
These are the first three paragraphs.
Xlinks is pleased to announce a financial and strategic partnership with energy tech pioneer Octopus Energy Group.
The Morocco – UK Power Project will speed up the UK’s transition to net zero by laying four 3,800km-long subsea cables to connect a huge renewable energy farm in the Moroccan desert with Devon in South West England. Morocco is setting its sights on becoming a world leader in solar energy, already boasting some of the world’s largest solar arrays, and meeting two-fifths of its electricity demand with renewables. There will be huge economic benefits to both countries involved, with Xlinks bringing green energy and engineering jobs to both the UK and Morocco.
The project will diversify UK supply routes and boost energy security through the supply of 3.6 GW of reliable, clean power to the UK for an average of 20 hours a day, enough green energy to power about 7 million homes.
Note.
- The cables will be nearly 2,400 miles
- It is scheduled to be operational in 2027.
- Xlinks is expected to deliver power at £48/MWh, which is comparable with offshore wind.
- Wikipedia talks of a Hinkley Point C strike price of £92.50/MWh (in 2012 prices).
- Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy Group, is also a personal investor in the project.
- Greg Jackson is interviewed in this article in today’s Sunday Times.
I wrote more about this project in Moroccan Solar-Plus-Wind To Be Linked To GB In ‘Ground-Breaking’ Xlinks Project.
Conclusion
This mega-project could be approaching the point, where the starting gun is fired.
Poland May Become A Green Hydrogen Tycoon
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Hydrogen Central.
This is the first two paragraphs.
In 2050, Poland may become one of the most competitive producers of green hydrogen in the European Union. In addition, we could export it to other countries, using the already existing infrastructure – e.g. the Yamal gas pipeline.
According to analysts of the Polish Economic Institute (PIE), in the next three decades Poland could become a very competitive producer of green hydrogen. Particularly economically beneficial in Polish conditions would be the production of hydrogen based on energy from onshore wind energy.
Note.
- The Yamal pipeline comes all the way from Siberia.
- The Baltic pipeline will connect Norway and Poland.
- Poland currently has over 7 GW of wind power.
- Wikipedia says this “In 2019, wind was the second most important source of electricity produced in Poland, after coal, and accounted for about 10% of the electricity production.”
- I have been to quite a few parts of Poland and it seems that it can be flat and windy.
- 1.2 GW of offshore wind is under development near Slupsk.
I very much feel that the conclusion of the article could be right.
Andrew Forrest Snaps Up Pilbara And Gascoyne Cattle Stations For Green Energy Production
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
This is the first paragraph.
Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has continued his land acquisition in Western Australia, purchasing another three cattle stations in the state’s north-west to generate renewable energy.
These are some points for the article.
- Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Future Industries has purchased three cattle stations in northern WA
- The stations will continue to run stock, and contribute to the production of green energy
- FFI says it is looking at other parts of WA to acquire land for similar projects
- The energy created will be used to decarbonise Andrew Forrest’s mining operations by 2030.
- A renewable hub of 340 wind turbines alongside solar panels will be created, which will generate 5 GW of energy.
- The possibility of offshore energy is mentioned.
- There is no mention of energy storage.
I have a few thoughts.
For A Reliable 5 GW Of Energy, Storage Is Surely Needed
I would think that this is probably understood by Fortescue Future Industries and given their ambitions for hydrogen, this must surely be part of an energy storage strategy.
Will Hydrogen Be Exported By Fortescue Future Industries From Australia?
I would expect this depends on three things.
- How much green energy is generated.
- The energy needs of Andrew Forrest’s mining companies.
- How much hydrogen can be sold in Australia.
Fortescue Future Industries will certainly have the market, if they have a surplus.
How Much Energy Will Fortescue Future Industries Generate Per Hectare?
This paragraph from the article gives useful information.
The hub would consist of 340 wind turbines alongside solar panels across Emu Creek and Uaroo Stations, in a development envelope of more than 65,000 hectares of land and a disturbance footprint of more than 10,000 hectares.
- If you look at the 65,000 hectares, as the area of the renewable energy hub, 0.77 MW is generated per hectare.
- If you look at the 10,000 hectares, as the area of the renewable energy hub, 0.5 MW is generated per hectare.
- If you look at Shell’s Scotwind E2 lease, that is 2 GW in 86,000 hectares, where 0.023 MW is generated per hectare.
So on a brief look Australia is a more efficient place for renewable energy, than the seas around the UK.
Conclusion
Andrew Forrest is developing a more detailed plan.
Shetland’s Viking Wind Farm
I was listening to SSE’s Chief Executive; Alistair Phillips-Davies, on the radio this morning, when he mentioned the Viking wind farm on Shetland.
- The wind farm is being developed by Viking Energy, a partnership between Shetland Islands Council and SSE plc.
- It will have 103 turbines and a nameplate capacity of 370 MW.
- Construction started in September 2020 and should be complete by 2024.
- The wind farm will be connected to the National grid via the Shetland HVDC Connection.
- There’s more on the Viking Energy web site.
Note.
- According to Wikipedia, wind farms in the Shetlands can have capacity factors of over 50 %.
- Viking Energy hope that the Viking wind farm will become one of the most productive onshore wind farms in the world.
- Is it unusual, that the wind farm is developed by a partnership between a local authority and a large utility company?
It also appears that together the Viking wind farm and the Shetland HVDC Connection will allow the 66 MW diesel-powered Lerwick power station to be closed.
Does The Electricity System On Shetland Need Energy Storage?
As an Electrical Engineer, who specialised in Control Engineering, I am surprised that to ensure energy security, that there is no energy storage on Shetland.
In the Wikipedia entry for Lerwick power station, there is a section entitled Load Balancing, where this is said.
The growth of output from wind turbines in Shetland has increased instability in the local grid (which is not connected to the national grid on mainland Scotland). SSE installed a 1 MW sodium–sulfur battery in a nearby building to ameliorate the peak loads. However due to safety concerns, the sodium-sulfur battery was removed prior to commissioning and the energy storage building was reconfigured to accommodate 3MWh of advanced lead-acid batteries.
A combination of the new Shetland HVDC Connection and the lead-acid batteries must be enough to ensure energy security for the Shetlands.
Onshore And Offshore Wind Energy Capacity Predicted To Increase By 230% By 2030
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on insider.
The report was commissioned by Scottish Renewables to assess the effects on the supply chain in Scotland.
But it does show that Scotland is on the way to be able to supply a lot of its electricity from wind farms, which would be backed up by some of another of pumped storage schemes under development.
Siemens Gamesa Partners On Offshore Wind-to-Hydrogen
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on renews.biz.
This is the first three paragraphs.
Siemens Gamesa has signed a memorandum of understanding with Strohm to collaborate on the development of offshore wind-to-hydrogen infrastructure.
The partnership will focus on the advancement of hydrogen transfer solutions that will look to improve the decentralized green hydrogen concept, whereby green hydrogen is generated in each turbine generator and transported to shore by a subsea pipe.
In this concept power cables are replaced by a pipe infrastructure used for storing and transferring hydrogen.
Thermoplastic composite pipe (TCP) will be used.
The Anonymous Widower 