GustoMSC’s successful delivery of the world’s first telescopic leg crane on Shimizu’s Blue Wind, showcases our commitment to technology innovation. The telescopic boom brings a host of advantages, including enhanced operational efficiency, heightened safety measures, and a reduced ecological footprint. With its unique combination of remarkable lifting height and substantial lifting capacity, this integrated leg-encircling crane sets new standards for the offshore wind industry, contributing to a greener energy future.
For more information: nov.com/gustomsc
To ensure a sustainable future the energy transition is set in motion. Being futureproof within the oil, gas, maritime, offshore wind and marine energy industries, means being part of the energy transition and investing in sustainable solutions. This is the way forward, for our business and planet.
A large part of the energy transition will take place at sea. By combining markets, the gears of energy transition are set in motion. The Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference, held 28 and 29 November in RAI Amsterdam is a connector of communities.
Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference (OEEC) is a high-quality event for the offshore energy industry. With major players from offshore wind, marine energy, oil & gas and the maritime sector, the exhibition is the place do business and connect with relevant stakeholders from different markets. During the event, the latest developments and innovations from the offshore energy sector are presented by experts and thought leaders.
This edition OEEC expands with an additional exhibition hall. The new hall will help better showcase the whole setup of OEEC 2023 and provide more exhibition possibilities for interested companies. Visitors and exhibitors can expect a spacious conference area on the exhibition floor itself, state-of-the-art bookable meeting rooms, an exclusive business lounge and an Offshore Energy Pavilion.
For more information on Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference 2023 check the www.offshore-energy.biz/oeec2023.
The editorial team
Our fully integrated Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System (IPS) packages are there for you, for excellence in all conditions. Enjoy unrivalled maneuverability, high productivity and low fuel consumption. Maximum power, maximum precision.
volvopenta.com
To that end, in 2021, we partnered with Arkview Capital and acquired the Sweden-based Marinvest Group. Marinvest had been founded by Lars Mossberg in 1998. He had been very active in maritime innovation and had developed one of the world’s first methanol powered commercial vessels.
These vessels demonstrated two things, primarily. One, crucially, was that methanol could be safely used as a fuel in the shipping industry. The second was that it offered a means by which to comply with the industry’s increasingly stringent emissions regulations.
Following the acquisition, we set about building a fleet of dual-fuel methanol powered methanol carriers. This amounted to five vessels in total – the Clean Sea fleet –each proudly bearing the motto ‘powered by methanol’ on the hull. In partnership with Methanex Corp., the world’s largest methanol producer, and sailing for Waterfront Shipping Company the vessels have clocked up over 55,000 running hours on methanol to date. We also supervised the design and construction of a further sixteen such vessels operated by the same company.
We believe methanol has a significant role to play in helping the maritime sector achieve its ambitious target of net zero by 2050. It’s apparent, of course, that this transition will be a gradual process. We must
move first from grey methanol, to blue and bio-methanol, and gradually to green and e-methanol.
Along the way, it is very important that there is a process that works economically. The move towards widespread use of methanol as a fuel in the industry is only going to take place if its works for investors. Implementing wider use of methanol is going to require considerable investment in technology and infrastructure. Therefore, the presentation of methanol as a maritime fuel must be attractive. It must be clear that there is opportunity for businesses to continue to generate profit and deliver a return on investment. In fact, in 2022 and 2023, due to pricing dynamics and the ability to source methanol as a marine fuel in a significant number of ports, it has been economically beneficially to burn methanol as an alternative to VLSFO and LSMGO (and clearly to LNG too), regardless of the environmental benefits. That has been repeatedly demonstrated these couple of years when our charterers chose methanol over the primary fuel on pure economic evaluation.
If we are able to get that part right, then the potential is enormous. Already, with grey methanol, we see a reduction in CO2 emissions of around 15%. With blue methanol we expect up to 60% reduction and ultimately with bio and green methanol we would be able to perform “net zero”
voyages in line with 2030 and 2050 global targets.
The gradual nature of the transition hints at one of the major benefits of methanol as a fuel. In all its forms, methanol uses the same engine technology. That’s one of the key benefits; as the energy transition gathers pace, there is no need for operators to invest repeatedly in new equipment or to undertake retrofits. Methanol allows us to prepare for tomorrow, today.
A further benefit is that methanol is a liquid fuel at an ambient temperature. When we were considering our approach to the energy transition, we were initially attracted to LNG, which was proving to be very popular at the time. However, on closer analysis, we selected to go down the methanol route precisely because of these qualities. Methanol is simply not as complex as gas from this perspective.
I think it’s likely that the future, at least the foreseeable future, will see a mix of alternative maritime fuels as different technologies emerge and various sectors assess which are most suitable for their operations. I’m confident, though, that methanol is going to be an increasingly significant part of the picture in the years to come.
Modi Mano Founder and Managing Director MSEA Capital
“I’m confident that methanol is going to be an increasingly significant part of the picture.”
I started MSEA back in 2012 and it became very quickly apparent to me that we would have to do something to contribute to maritime decarbonisation. Having built up a substantial fleet of vessels, consideration of alternative fuels seemed like a logical place to start.
The energy woes that befall the world in 2022 brought about the double whammy of rapidly working on diversifying the energy mix with more renewables while ramping up the crude oil and natural gas production to appease the increasingly intertwined concepts of energy security and transition to a green and low-carbon future. In this shifting energy landscape, gas is still forecasted to play a crucial role and act as a trump card while the world embraces the race to net-zero.
This was confirmed at the G7 summit in Hiroshima under Japan’s 2023 Presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) when leaders highlighted that further investments in the gas sector would be needed to address potential shortfalls due to the current energy crisis. With
gas keeping its position as the unchallenged king on the global energy stage, the G7 also underscored that ramping up deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) could play an important role in the energy arsenal, propelling the transition to clean energy forward.
Piece in the puzzle
Stepping up renewable deployment is also seen as a key piece in the puzzle to bring a green and low-carbon energy future to life. Bearing this in mind, the G7 intends to expand renewable energy worldwide through a collective
increase in offshore wind capacity of 150 GW by 2030 and a collective increase of solar PV to more than 1 TW by 2030.
With the conclusion of the G7 summit in Japan at the forefront and ahead of the G20, COP28 and other international events, a coalition of organisations from across the global natural gas industry, including the American Petroleum Institute (API), U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Asia Natural Gas
and Energy Association (ANGEA), International Gas Union (IGU), LNG Allies, U.S. LNG Association and Western States & Tribal Nations Natural Gas Initiative highlighted that natural gas would be essential for meeting global energy needs.
The organisations underscore: “We commend the decisive leadership of Japan and the G7 nations for supporting investment in natural gas infrastructure in the final communique.
The G7 statement reaffirms that natural gas will remain essential to meeting growing global energy needs and demonstrates that the world’s leading democracies support the role of responsible natural gas producers in helping to ensure global energy security while advancing our shared climate goals.
“In the coming decades, the world will demand more energy, not less, and natural gas will play a foundational role in the global energy mix for decades. The importance of this role will only grow as an increasing number of fast-growing countries aim to expand energy access for their citizens while reducing heavy reliance on coal with an increased supply of liquefied natural gas.”
With the G20, COP28, and other international gatherings, drawing near, these organisations emphasise their commitment to reducing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while promoting investment in the natural gas value chain in a bid to “improve quality of life, secure global energy systems, and elevate environmental standards.”
Rystad Energy research recently showed that global energy reliability concerns were triggering a surge in oil and gas investments, as expected investments in fossil fuels in 2022 and 2023 surged by $140 billion with energy shortages and sky-high prices causing the spending estimate to jump to almost $1.1 trillion, while before the Ukraine crisis, the two-year total was projected at $945 billion.
This $140 billion growth encompasses an additional $80 billion increase in shale production, as activity climbed 30 per cent and pricing for oilfield
services jumped nearly 50 per cent, while offshore production accounted for $40 billion in growth, with other onshore activities expanded by an additional $20 billion.
However, the energy market intelligence group believes that this uptick is only temporary. In light of this, the company advises other service players in the sector to capitalize on this shift now before the focus returns to the energy transition.
Audun Martinsen, head of supply chain research at Rystad Energy, commented: “Service companies should make the most of this upturn now, while keeping one eye firmly on the future. The energy transition is not slowing down; huge waves of investments in renewables and clean tech are on the horizon. So, to ensure their long-term success, service companies should adapt their offerings now to capitalize fully on the inevitable green revolution.”
Furthermore, Rystad Energy claims that the energy security concerns have unlocked significant additional investments in oil and gas, boosting spending forecasts and sending the expected timing for peak oil demand out in time. As a result, the first wave of extra spending over the past 15 months mainly went to oil and gas, while low-carbon industries faced a slowdown due to high inflation and shortages in the supply chain.
Despite this, the firm is confident that the low-carbon spending will bounce back, as energy security is “not only about securing oil and gas here and now but also about securing cleaner energy for the future.”
To drive this point home, Rystad underlines that the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and the recently announced Critical Raw Mineral and Technology Acts in the European Union will strengthen the significant investment cycle brewing in the renewable and clean-tech sectors. In lieu of this, solar, wind, carbon capture, hydrogen, and batteries are the markets, which are set to benefit from policies aimed at pushing low-carbon deployment forward and building up local supply chains.
Reliable supply chain
“Gaining control of the supply chain is crucial for countries and regions to become less dependent on global value chains. Even though the sun shines and the wind blows in every country, the energy must still be harnessed and stored locally. This can only be done with a reliable, often local, supply chain,” points out Martinsen.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), about $2.8 trillion is set to be invested globally in energy in 2023 while the global investment in clean energy technologies is on course to rise to $1.7 trillion in 2023, with solar set to eclipse oil production for the first time. The remainder, slightly more than $1 trillion, is going to coal, gas, and oil.
One of the biggest issues facing the development of energy projects in the U.S. – new low-carbon energies and oil and gas – is permitting reform. In line with this, the Biden administration has
been urged to address – what is sees as – the broken permitting process, which is halting U.S. energy development. By some, the bipartisan agreement to raise the nation’s debt ceiling is perceived to be a step in the right direction to tackle the permitting reform challenge.
Mike Sommers, API President and CEO, remarked: “We applaud the Congress for passing the debt limit bill that includes important progress on permitting reform. Our current system for reviewing the infrastructure projects that fuel our economy and support our way of life did not become an endless gauntlet of bureaucratic hurdles overnight, and it will take more than one step to develop a workable process. This is a positive start, and we look forward to continuing to work with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to build on this progress.”
Efficient permitting
Wood Mackenzie’s Ed Crooks explains that the bipartisan agreement sets time limits for environmental reviews, but is seen as only ”initial steps towards more efficient permitting.”
As this bill included provisions to expedite the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which will transport natural gas from northwest West Virginia to southern Virginia, Crooks predicts that the legislation will not have a significant impact on this project in particular, or others across the United States.
“The key provisions include new deadlines for environmental reviews: one year for an initial environmental assessment, and two years for a more detailed environmental impact statement. The bill also specifies maximum numbers of pages for those documents, makes clear that analysis
for previous reviews can often be reused, and sets procedures for deciding which government bodies have responsibility,” elaborated Crooks.
In response to the passing of the debt ceiling legislation, American Clean Power (ACP), stated: “While ACP is appreciative of the steps taken to include much-needed reforms to improve efficiency of the permitting process for clean energy projects, it’s critical that Congress build upon these initial steps and tackle comprehensive, meaningful reform to improve our nation’s clean power transmission capabilities and bring about the clean energy future America needs.”
On the other hand, certain environmental groups view the deal to raise the debt ceiling in the U.S. as another mechanism that oil and gas players can take advantage of to get a green light for more fossil fuel projects in the future.
These environmental activists, such as Earthjustice, see LNG projects – like the Alaska LNG project, a $38.7 billion fossil-fuel infrastructure plan to export LNG – as carbon bombs and hydrogen projects, as a way for Big Oil and Gas to delay the energy transition to a clean future.
“The oil and gas industry is hyping up hydrogen in sectors where we already have superior clean energy alternatives. We should follow through on the transition to clean electricity and modern electric vehicles and appliances, rather than get distracted by the fossil fuel industry’s hydrogen gamble,” outlines Earthjustice.
by Melisa CavcicThe report on the potential of tidal stream energy to support sustainable growth in the UK, published by Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment, has concluded that this form of energy can serve as an effective complement to wider efforts on both net zero and energy security.
The report, titled ‘Seizing sustainable growth opportunities from tidal stream energy in the UK’, assesses the potential contribution of tidal stream energy to sustainable growth in the UK, drawing on a review of the existing literature and new analysis of trade and patents data.
The assessment is used to determine whether tidal stream energy constitutes a strategic priority for sustainable growth in the UK, and if so, what the immediate steps should be to maximize potential growth opportunities from the sector.
According to the report, developing the UK’s tidal stream energy sector can support regionally-balanced growth across the country.
The researchers argue that the UK should pursue tidal stream energy underpinned by a strong domestic
'Tidal stream energy can serve as ‘effective complement’ to wider UK’s net zero
supply chain to maximize sustainable growth opportunities from this emerging technology.
This would require rapidly developing the UK supply chain’s capacity to deliver domestic projects cost effectively and at scale, while continuing to invest in technological innovations to drive further cost reductions.
The report states that this would be a ‘low-regrets approach’ for the UK, regardless of how the global market
and supply chains elsewhere for tidal stream energy may pan out.
While the global market for tidal stream energy remains small, the UK would have built capacity to quickly expand a domestic source of low-carbon energy supply, with significant benefits for the energy system and strong potential to support growth across its regions, the paper reads.
In a future where the global market picks up, the UK, having positioned itself at the forefront of technological
development, would readily be able to export some complex products in which it has specialism alongside its knowledge and services underpinned by its innovative strengths abroad, the analysis found.
In the report, Scotland was found to be well-placed to lead the development of tidal stream energy, and the expertise developed there could support the sector’s growth in the rest of the UK.
When it comes to investments in tidal stream energy innovation, it was found that they yield higher estimated economic returns for the UK relative to other clean technology areas.
Increased support for innovation could keep the UK at the frontier of technological development for tidal stream energy, enabling it to scale up a low-carbon energy source in its own waters, and to capture export opportunities when the global market picks up, the report states.
However, the authors warn the UK’s ability to secure such opportunities will depend on timely investments in the domestic supply chain.
An explicit statement of government ambition in tidal stream energy would help to drive private sector investment into the domestic supply chain and the delivery of the technology at scale in UK waters. This could be in the form of a domestic deployment target in gigawatt terms, as advocated by industry, according to the report.
The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme can continue to be utilized to scale up relatively established tidal stream technologies in the UK. The report also adds that a continued ringfencing approach for tidal stream
energy can accelerate deployment and catalyze drivers of cost reduction for the technology, as previously seen in offshore wind.
When it comes to the government, it can maximize sustainable growth opportunities from tidal stream energy by coordinating policy across deployment and supply chain development. In particular, proactive coordination across the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is needed on this agenda.
Also, the government should consult with industry to explore which mechanisms can most effectively carry early-stage tidal stream concepts to com-
mercialization, building on the UK’s innovative strengths in tidal stream technology to create economic benefits.
Complementary specialisms: The report also found that a holistic strategy for the offshore economy that includes tidal stream alongside carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and offshore wind is likely to yield greater economic benefits than pursuing any single area alone. The UK demonstrates complementary specialisms for these three technologies at both a national and regional level, the report concludes.
The UK Marine Energy Council welcomed the reports findings, with Richard Arnold, policy director at the
council, saying: “This is a fantastic and instructive report for policymakers focused on delivering net zero. Tidal stream can have a key role in realizing that target, whilst delivering green growth and opportunities for coastal communities and beyond.
“The UK is a global leader in tidal stream energy and has over 11GW of accessible capacity. With over 90% of the world’s economy now covered by net zero targets, the demand for predictable renewable power will continue to grow. The UK government must act to maintain its leadership and support British companies exporting innovative tidal stream technology around the world.”
By Amir Garanovic
Norwegian marine technology player Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled a range of new vessel designs in its UT Design portfolio, which now features next-generation anchor handler (AHT) and platform supply vessels (PSV), sporting the option to boost performance with alternative energy sources and fuels, such as methanol, ammonia, and hybrid-battery power.
Kongsberg explains that its new AHT and PSV designs have received Approval in Principle from DNV to operate with ammonia-fuelled engines and can incorporate an offshore charging capable plug-in hybrid option, to enable emission-free battery-powered operation.
Einar Vegsund, Director, Ship Design Solutions, Kongsberg Maritime, commented: “Kongsberg’s iconic UT vessels have been the benchmark design for the offshore industry for the past 50 years. These latest designs combine decades of experience and the latest innovative Kongsberg technologies to offer customers next-generation ships that are equipped for the future.
“Our ship designs continue to evolve, and changes to regulations and uncertainty around preferred fuels have driven the demand to create ships that are ready for the future and give owners the confidence to invest, knowing their ships can adapt to meet future requirements.”
According to the Norwegian player, these next-generation designs are expected to help shipowners address current and future challenges around efficiency, emissions reduction, and developing market requirements in the wake of the quest for decarbonisation and greener vessels spurred by the race to net-zero.
These new designs come at a time when the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is in the process of revising its initial GHG strategy. Many experts see 2023 as a vital window of opportunity to set a zero or minimum net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target for a net-zero future from international shipping by 2050 at the latest while setting ambitious goals for 2030 and 2040 is believed to be crucial.
Martijn de Jongh, Chief Designer Specialised Vessels, Kongsberg Maritime, added: “A great deal of work has gone into ensuring this new range of ships gives owners a reduction in environmental footprint. We have drawn
on the results of numerous R&D programmes including hydrodynamic optimisation, assessing offshore battery charging, and in cooperation with Amon Maritime, obtained the Approval in Principle for the use of ammonia as a fuel.”
Furthermore, the new PSV design range, UT 7400, has all the features Kongsberg deems to be required to address the latest regulations for the transport of liquid products and the growing requirement for lower emissions and environmental footprint, including energy consumption reduction, and readiness for future fuel transition.
These PSV designs come with a variety of options for the type of cargo, cargo volume, and cargo deck area, which can be configured depending on the operational profile of the vessel. Kongsberg underlines that the
cargo area has been re-designed and provides options for the various products compliant with the latest OSV Chemical Code regulations, “ensuring the safe transportation and storage of hazardous materials, while optimising the structural arrangement.”
On the other hand, the company elaborates that the anchor handler range, known as UT 7800, will eventually include four sizes, ranging from small to extra-large, with bollard pulls of 180 tons for the small version, increasing to over 400 tons for the largest version of the vessel.
“The UT 7800 has been designed for initial operation in the traditional oil and gas anchor handling market, but it is very adaptable for future offshore energy developments, such as floating wind. While we are also designing ships specifically for the offshore wind market, the UT 7800 range has the
benefit of being able to operate at first in oil and gas, then, if desired, it can be adapted to serve operations in new, evolving markets,” added de Jongh.
Aside from a choice of winch configurations and capacities and adaptable chain and rope handling and storage capacity, Kongsberg highlights that ROVs and cranes can also be integrated into the designs. In line with this, the deck equipment and arrangement for the largest vessels has been optimised for the larger dimensions and weights of the rope, chain, and equipment than is typical within oil and gas, enabling operations outside these markets.
Energy consumption
“One of the great innovations the anchor handler design offers is significantly reduced energy consumption during anchor operations. This is achieved through the use of Kongsberg’s cross-tensioning system where the load testing of anchors will use the power of the winches rather than the traditional approach of one or more vessels using bollard pull and engine power. This approach will lead to significant operational cost savings, enabling this crucial offshore task to be handled by a single ship,” underscored de Jongh.
Recently, Kongsberg Maritime completed a live trial of autonomous shipping technology in Bornem, Belgium, demonstrating the progress the company made in fully autonomous systems. This live trial comes on the heels of another demonstration of autonomous ship technology in Alesund, Norway, during which a cargo vessel completed a range of tasks autonomously as part of an operation that is seen as one of the Norwegian player’s most complex journeys at sea.
By Melisa CavcicWhile the world is putting the wheels into motion to decarbonise the energy sector with a new raft of policy and technological measures springing up left and right, Norway’s state-owned energy giant Equinor outlines in its new report that the 1.5-degree goal set in the Paris Agreement is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.
As the slow, incremental change takes root over the energy transition stage, Equinor’s Energy Perspectives 2023 report dives into long-term developments in the world’s energy markets, looking into the efforts required to scale up the move towards a sustainable energy future. The company’s report contemplates the long-term energy transition outlook, focusing on what the industry can do to overcome the current obstacles, driven by factors such as geopolitics, technology, climate and energy policy, and company and consumer behaviour.
In a bid to reach climate change goals, energy demand projections are made in this report, however, the Norwegian player is adamant that the world is far from being on track to meet the targets and ambition set out in the Paris Agreement. As increased levels of geopolitical conflict have made the energy transition “more fragmented,” Equinor claims that positive developments are in many cases offset by negative ones.
Eirik Wærness, Chief economist at Equinor, remarked: “The continued
war initiated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the challenges with inflation and cost of living are putting a damper on absolutely necessary energy transition measures. “On the other hand, it is encouraging to see that substantial progress has been made in some areas such as solar PV and electric vehicle deployment. Despite short-term setbacks, the longer-term signals clearly point in the direction of decarbonisation, but speed and scale are uncertain.”
The previous year ushered in a global
energy crisis, which hit several sectors. Many are of the opinion that Europe has been hit the hardest, which led to unprecedented measures to sustain a balance in the supply and demand of natural gas. Based on Equinor’s report, emerging economies in Asia had to increase their use of coal to satisfy their energy demand, partly because of Europe’s measures to secure global LNG to counter the loss of Russian volumes.
Anders Opedal, President and CEO of Equinor, commented: “With energy security and affordability high on the agenda, we’ve turned every stone to maximise our energy deliveries to Europe. At the same time, we have contributed to a balanced energy transition by advancing renewables and low-carbon solutions projects.”
In its report, Equinor analysts showcase two distinct scenarios – called Walls and Bridges – for the world economy, international energy markets, and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. These scenarios begin their energy transition story at the current level and look into ways to accelerate the progress being made to reach the speed required to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Both of these scenarios share nearidentical paths up until 2025, at which point they start to diverge with Walls showing a pathway of where the world could go if it continues to broadly follow current trends, whilst Bridges illustrates a pathway the world would need to follow to reach the 1.5°C target. The difference between the two is seen in the relative force of the transition drivers and the extent to which they influence the future path of the global energy system after 2025 in addressing the climate challenge.
In line with this, Equinor points out that the Walls scenario signals a path of substantial energy transition, but falls short of Paris-consistent climate ambitions for 2050. This is due to the increased levels of geopolitical conflict, triggered by the Ukraine crisis, which have made the trade-off between the three criteria of the energy trilemma – energy affordability, energy security, and energy decarbonisation – more challenging.
Therefore, the Norwegian stateowned giant highlights that walls have become “thicker and higher” in many ways despite the incorporation of expected positive consequences of the Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S. and further changes in energy and climate policies in the EU.
On the other hand, the Bridges scenario, which is described as a normative scenario aligned with the 1.5-degree global warming ambition in the Paris Agreement, requires a low geopolitical conflict level, common solutions to common challenges across regions, sharing of technology and financial support from industrialised countries to developing countries.
For Equinor, Walls signify the abundance of barriers blocking fundamental and accelerated change in the global energy system while Bridges represent the overcoming of these barriers and the impetus towards accelerated change. As a result, the Walls scenario does not deliver on the energy transition needed to reach climate ambitions, whilst Bridges does so.
While the peak demand for fossil fuels arrives before 2030 in both scenarios, the peak occurs in 2026 in Walls, followed by a gentle downward trajectory. In Bridges, fossil fuel demand declines at a rapid pace after 2025, thus, by 2050, all remaining fossil fuel use is either fully abated or compensated by carbon removal.
Even though the gas demand will continue to grow in Walls, it declines sharply in Bridges. In light of this, gas demand peaks in 2039 in Walls and is around 10 per cent higher than today’s level in 2050 while in Bridges, gas demand peaks in 2025 and falls to around a third of today’s level in 2050.
Both scenarios depict a shift in energy consumption towards electricity, as electrification accelerates steadily towards 2050 in Walls, increasing its share by half while in Bridges, a massive acceleration happens before 2030 and
by 2050, the share exceeds 50 per cent, two and a half times as large.
Moreover, wind and solar photovoltaics (PV) capacities show significant growth compared to 2020 levels in these two scenarios. While in Walls, wind and solar PV capacities are five and nine times greater, respectively, in 2050 compared with today, in Bridges, wind capacity is eight times bigger, and solar PV capacity is 13 times greater in 2050 compared with today.
As electrification and hydrogen, including derivatives, are seen as tools that will contribute to the decarbonisation of transport, in both scenarios, electric vehicles replace internal combustion engines in road transport but to a different extent. In Bridges, further decarbonisation is achieved by increasing the use of hydrogen, including its derivatives in marine and air transport.
In addition, Equinor elaborates that the demand for minerals needed to support the energy transition is set to increase significantly. In Walls, the demand for
such minerals doubles by the early 2030s compared with the average annual demand from 2016 to 2020. In contrast, the Bridges scenario outlines that demand peaks by 2035 and then drops towards 2040 driven by mineral intensity improvements and a slowdown in new annual capacity additions.
“The role of critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs) in the energy transition is receiving substantial attention as unprecedented demand, declining reserves, and increasingly complex supply chains are challenges that need to see solutions,” added Wærness.
Furthermore, Equinor believes that carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) will play “an essential role” in the decarbonisation of the power and industry sectors. The Walls scenario predicts that CCUS on both coal and gas will start to accelerate after 2030, while in the Bridges scenario, there is massive growth in CCUS even before 2030. There are also extensive contributions from carbon removal technologies and practices after 2030.
The Norwegian player is of the opinion that current net-zero commitments are not enough to avoid global warming above 1.5°C. The Walls scenario underlines that the 1.5°C budget is exhausted by 2033 while the Bridges scenario indicates that current commitments are met, and further commitments are made that enable emissions to remain within the 1.5°C carbon budget with the help of carbon removal technologies.
This report comes nine months after Equinor’s Energy Perspectives 2022 report, which underscored that “trust, cooperation, and burden-sharing must be established” to bring the world on track to address long-term sustainability challenges in a balanced manner.
“Another year has passed by with only moderate progress and that amplifies the massive shortcomings of actual energy transition measures compared to stated ambitions,” emphasised Equinor.
By Melisa Cavcic
Good employership starts with happy employees, who are motivated, challenged and upto-date. In our present time with technological developments at top speed, innovations and transformations professional agility is paramount. Would you, as an employer like to make a structural contribution to the technical development of your employees? Consider a collective membership at the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers (KIVI: Koninklijk Instituut Van Ingenieurs). Sign up ten (or more) of your top engineers and they can immediately benefit from all advantages the largest engineering platform in the Netherlands has to offer.
Norwegian oil and gas player Aker BP has revealed some of the benefits that its two recently greenlighted major developments on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) are expected to bring, aside from strengthening energy security once they are put into operation. These benefits include more work for the supply chain, enabling innovation, with more than 200 Norwegian suppliers already involved in these projects.
After the Storting gave its stamp of approval for the Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris development plans on 5 June 2023, the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy approved the developments on 28 June 2023. According to Aker BP, the politicians have greenlighted thousands of jobs and important value creation in Norway with this resolution, as over 200 Norwegian supplier companies are directly contributing to these developments and the number is expected to grow in the
years to come. Aker BP’s licence partners in Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris are Equinor, PGNiG Upstream Norway, and Pandion Energy.
Karl Johnny Hersvik, CEO of Aker BP, commented: “The Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris development projects are direct responses to the activity package approved by the Storting three years ago. It aimed to secure activity, protect jobs, develop expertise and further develop the industry at a
time characterised by the pandemic, record-low oil prices and steep declines in investments. Together with our licence partners, Aker BP is now delivering in line with the politicians’ expectations.”
The Yggdrasil development covers a large area consisting of several extraction permits and discoveries located between the Alvheim and Oseberg fields. The development concept con-
sists of an unmanned production platform to the north – Munin, formerly Krafla – a process platform with a well bay area and living quarters – Hugin A, formerly NOA – to the south and a normally unmanned wellhead platform on Frøy – Hugin B – which will be tied back to Hugin A. The recoverable resources are estimated at around 650 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and the start of production is slated for 2027.
On the other hand, the Valhall PWP-Fenris project involves further development of the Valhall area, where a new unmanned platform on the Fenris field will be connected to a new integrated process platform at Valhall. The project’s estimated recov-
erable resources are 367 million barrels of oil equivalent. The production start-up is slated for the third quarter of 2027.
Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris represent approximately NOK 165 billion (currently over $15.32 billion) in investments and are expected to generate more than NOK 120 billion (around $11.14 billion) in estimated tax revenue for Norway. The projects will contribute 130,000 full-time equivalents in Norway throughout the lifetime of the fields with about half of this in the development phase.
“Although Aker BP is the largest privately owned taxpayer in Norway, we’re actually a small business. We will
be drawing on the entire value chain to carry out these developments. Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris are possible thanks to the world-class Norwegian industry that can deliver complex oil and gas projects. Many of these companies will also take Norway into new value chains,” added Hersvik.
Furthermore, the contracts for these two projects are awarded by Aker BP, as well as the company’s alliance partners and strategic partners, and directly involve more than 200 Norwegian suppliers, which will be making thousands of purchase orders, with a significant percentage, about 65 per cent, going to Norwegian companies. For many suppliers, this means a considerable boost in the competitive edge.
Robotic welding:
The Kvinesdal-based Tratec Halvorsen is delivering large process tanks to Yggdrasil, thanks to a contract valued at more than NOK 100 million (almost $9.28 million), which has ensured work for engineers, production personnel and apprentices for the next two to three years. The importance of this contract is confirmed by the firm’s CEO, Frode Olsen, who outlines that the deal will allow the firm to invest in “cutting-edge robotic welding machines,” making the company ”competitive in the international market.”
On the other hand, Framo in Bergen is delivering pumps to Valhall PWP-Fenris and Yggdrasil and the company will work together with Aker BP throughout the equipment’s lifetime, from design to operation. Sigve Gjerstad, director of offshore pumping systems, points out that Aker BP has challenged the firm’s mindset, as “through sharing data, we can jointly optimise the use of pumps when operating the equipment.”
Another player, Linjepartner, is hiring new employees and more apprentices as a result of “a contract worth more than NOK 100 million with Yggdrasil power from shore. This will ensure a robust foundation for our company for the next two years, as well as an educational and interesting workplace for all our employees in and outside Trøndelag,” underlined Stig Myhr, Linjepartner’s general manager.
Moreover, FireNor in Kristiansand will deliver advanced firefighting equipment to Yggdrasil. The NOK 100-million (nearly $9.28 million) contract will secure work for 34 employees and the company will recruit new employees and take on more apprentices. The company is placing NOK 50 million (about $4.63 million) in contracts with its sub-suppliers while Kjetil Kleven, its Managing director, says the deal also “strengthens” the firm’s position in the offshore wind market.
Helge Gjøsæter, Leirvik CEO, underscored: “Leirvik has invested in automated and robotic production lines for welding and plate cutting. It will increase efficiency, improve safety for employees and boost competitiveness.” The yard at Stord will deliver the living quarters and helicopter deck for Hugin A in Yggdrasil and this contract will generate work for up to 220 people over the next several years, including apprentices.
Additionally, Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris projects are anticipated to yield considerable activity at yards in Grimstad, Eydehavn, Egersund, Stavanger, Haugesund, Stord, Verdal and Sandnessjøen. In line with this, Aker Solutions in Verdal will deliver two topsides and four jackets over the next three years, which secures jobs and vocational training for up to 100 apprentices. Through these projects, the Verdal yard will also invest in a ro-
botic and automated production line. Kjetel Digre, President and CEO of Aker Solutions, explained: “This will contribute to efficient project execution, improved productivity and an even safer workday for our employees. The upgrades will also strengthen Aker Solutions’ position in future renewables projects.”
Aside from this, Aker Solutions is also upgrading the yards in Egersund, Stord and Sandnessjøen and the company will provide vocational training for 500 apprentices as a result of the projects in the activity package. “These developments are incredibly important to Norway. We will celebrate this along with politicians, trade unions, other national stakeholders, our employees, licence partners, and most importantly, strategic partners and suppliers,” said Hersvik.
By Melisa CavcicBecoming the most sustainable shipbuilder means promoting environmental responsibility in all that we do. It means improving the processes by which we build our vessels; making them cleaner, more efficient. It means addressing the performance of our ships; reducing their noise and emissions and lowering their fuel consumption. It also means providing you with solutions to support the responsible, renewable production of our energy - safely, sustainably, reliably and with optimal efficiency.
Blåvinge, a consortium comprising
Fred. Olsen Seawind, Hafslund and Ørsted, has launched a pilot project that aims to explore whether installation vessels for floating offshore wind, and in particular anchor handling vessels, can use green ammonia as an energy carrier for maritime operations.
The goal of the project, initiated under the Green Shipping Programme (GSP), is to bring forward zero-emission solutions for the installation and operation of floating offshore wind turbines which, according to the three partners, may already be employed for the Utsira Nord floating wind project in Norway.
The participants have ambitions for the project to enable the use of green am-
monia for anchor handling ships in the installation and operational phase of Blåvinge’s floating offshore wind project at Utsira Nord.
“If we are successful with this pilot, it will be a solid contribution that can make Utsira Nord the world’s most sutainable floating offshore wind project”, said Blåvinge’s Erlend Gjelstad Jakobsen.
In Norwegian waters, emissions from offshore vessels currently account for the single largest emission item, due both to great activity on the Norwegian continental shelf, and also to the fact that energy-intensive operations are being performed, according to the consortium.
“Installation and maintenance of offshore wind farms require extensive
use of offshore vessels and especially anchor handling vessels. A 100 per cent emission reduction can only be achieved through carbon-neutral fuels, such as green ammonia. If we are successful with the project, it means that the installation of offshore wind turbines can be done with significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than is possible today”, Jakobsen said.
The Green Shipping Programme is a partnership between private and public actors whose goal is to contribute to Norway developing the world’s most efficient and environmentally friendly
shipping. Blåvinge is the pilot owner for the new project in GSP, together with DNV and a number of other partners, including the ship designer and shipbuilder Vard.
In the first phase, the participants in the GSP must carry out a feasibility study which involves assessing technical and financial feasibility. In addition, framework conditions and possible barriers for local value chains for ammonia will also be studied. “In addition to realising emission reductions for floating offshore wind in Norway, we see a potential for further use and application of the technology in the Norwegian and
international offshore industry”, said DNV’s Magnus Eide, who is the project manager for GSP.
Norway is home to the currently largest floating wind farm in the world, Hywind Tampen, and to several floating wind turbines being tested at the METcentre site. In March this year, the Norwegian government opened the application window for two offshore wind areas, Southern North Sea II and Utsira Nord, with the latter designated for floating wind projects.
The area has a capacity of 1.5 GW, which the government divided into three sites, each of which can accommodate a wind farm of 500 MW. The winners of the auction are expected to be announced by the end of 2023.
Ørsted teamed up with Fred. Olsen Seawind and Hafslund last year, when the companies revealed their plans to participate in the Norwegian tenders, both for the fixed-bottom offshore wind and the floating wind sites. The consortium also emerged as one of the partners of Norwegian Offshore Wind’s accelerator programme designed to foster the growth of startups and scaleups in the offshore wind industry.
By Adrijana Buljan
With inspections and oil transfer preparations almost out of the way, salvage operations to transfer the oil from a rapidly decaying floating storage offshore (FSO) unit moored off the Red Sea coast of Yemen to a safe vessel are expected to start soon, as part of the UN-led efforts to prevent a potential catastrophic oil spill. This raises concerns about the facility in which this tanker will be recycled with many calling on the Netherlands to take these matters into its own hands.
While the salvage operations to secure the 376-metre-long FSO Safer were delayed multiple times in the past due to lack of funding, the operations for the removal of the oil onboard this decaying oil tanker are now taking place off the coast of Yemen. The plan to address the threat posed by the FSO Safer comprises two critical tracks. This covers an emergency operation to transfer the oil from the FSO to a temporary vessel and the installation
of a long-term replacement vessel or another capacity equivalent to the FSO within a target of 18 months.
This FSO is in danger of exploding and unleashing a disaster, estimated to have the potential for a massive oil spill four times worse than the Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska in 1989. Therefore, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) signed an agreement in March 2023 to purchase
a very large crude carrier (VLCC), the Nautica, to take on the oil from the FSO Safer by emergency ship-to-ship transfer.
The Nautica left Zhousha in China on 6 April and was expected to arrive in the Red Sea in early May to mitigate the threat posed by the ageing supertanker in an advanced state of decay, as the cost of cleanup alone
would be $20 billion if this oil spill is not prevented. The FSO Safer has been moored some 4.8 nautical miles southwest of the Ras Issa peninsula on Yemen’s west coast for more than 30 years but the war between the pro-government coalition and Houthi rebels saw offloading from the vessel, as well as maintenance, grind to a halt in 2015.
Moreover, UNDP inked an agreement with Boskalis, through its subsidiary SMIT Salvage, to remove oil from the tanker and the firm’s scope of work consists of a number of phases with
the initial onsite phase focusing on a thorough inspection of the vessel and its cargo and creating a safe working environment. To this end, the multipurpose support vessel Ndeavor was prepared in the Netherlands.
Boskalis reported last week that “good progress” was made by SMIT Salvage to prepare the FSO Safer for the oil transfer phase of the operation with recent work focusing on inspecting and reinstating equipment on board the FSO. This entails various winches required for the mooring operation as well as the stripping pumps to facilitate
the transfer of the last remains of the cargo to the replacement oil tanker alongside the vessel.
Additionally, the underwater inspection of the hull by a team of professional divers has been executed while two tugboats, owned by Smit Lamnalco, also arrived on site. These tugboats will assist with the berthing of the replacement tanker when it arrives on site. Oil booms will be installed for contingency purposes as a precautionary measure during the ship-to-ship transfer of the oil.
The FSO Safer contains more than a million barrels of oil and is considered to be beyond repair, as it could soon break apart or explode. According to the UN, this is “enough to make it the fifth largest oil spill from a tanker in history.” After the vessel is declared clean and empty, it will be prepared for towing to a green scrapping yard under the responsibility of the UN.
As the UNDP is looking for a destination for the FSO’s recycling, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) urged the UNDP to find a solution that effectively addresses the inherent risks associated with the dismantling process and the management of the hazardous materials that will remain on board.
Currently, these NGOs are calling on the Dutch government, one of the biggest donors to the Stop Red Sea Oil Pollution operation, to follow suit and assist UNDP in identifying a suitable recycling facility by pushing
for “the safe and environmentally sound” recycling of the FSO Safer.
This comes after several yards located on the beaches in India and Bangladesh and major cash buyers have shown interest in scrapping the FSO. For NGOs, this is unacceptable as they claim that these yards regularly sell end-of-life vessels for “dirty and dangerous” shipbreaking.
NGO Shipbreaking Platform explains that facilities practising the beaching method have “a documented lack of capacity” to ensure the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, thus, they are likely to offer the highest price for the asset, leaving workers, local communities, and the environment to “pay the price of toxic exposure.”
With shipping broker Clarkson already getting interest and bids on behalf
of the UNDP for the towing and scrapping of the vessel, including from the Netherlands-based Elegant Exit Company (EEC) – which specialises in the sustainable recycling of veteran ships by converting them into green steel – the NGOs have urged UNDP to comply with international waste law and opt for a final destination that can guarantee practices beyond “the weak standards” set by the International Maritime Organisation’s Hong Kong Convention.
The Netherlands is among those that have shown leadership in preventing the environmental disaster an oil spill from the FSO Safer would have caused. The Dutch involvement in the Stop Red Sea Oil Pollution operation was also acknowledged by Liesje Schreinemacher, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, who recently announced
that the country would “continue helping the UN to bring this to a good end.”
Ingvild Jenssen, Director of the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, commented: “A good end entails ensuring that the FSO Safer is recycled at a facility that fully respects labour rights, operates from a dry-dock or features on the European List of approved ship recycling facilities.
“The Dutch government is a pioneer in environmentally friendly technologies implementing sound life-cycle practices, and Boskalis has been at the forefront as one of the first ship owners in the world to adopt an ‘off the beach’ ship recycling policy. “This should guide the so far successful Stop Red Sea Oil Pollution operation’s final and equally crucial stage.”
By Melisa Cavcic
The Marine Energy Wales annual State of the Sector Report has highlighted the progress and achievements of Wales in the marine renewable energy sector, unveiling €120.4 million investment in the sector over last year – nearly quadrupling the previous year’s figures. With a focus on infrastructure, supply chain, skills, and training, the report showcases Wales’ determination to become a global leader in the field of marine renewable energy.
The surge in investments is attributed to infrastructure expansions that are paving the way for future deployments and sector growth. The report also sheds light on the sector’s employment landscape, gender distribution, and the economic potential of various technologies.
The tidal stream segment emerged as the largest contributor to the Welsh economy, with €52.2 million in spending and investment, closely followed by the supply chain at €52 million. The floating offshore wind (FLOW) sector demonstrated rapid
growth, injecting €13.5 milion into the economy in the past year. With the potential to generate €1.16 billion in economic opportunities over the next five years alone, FLOW is poised to play a pivotal role in Wales’ marine energy sector.
Tom Hill, Marine Energy Wales’ program manager, said: “Revenue support for commercial-scale projects at a realistic market price is critical. The recent decision to reduce the tidal stream ringfence is deeply concerning, jeopardizing megawatt-scale tidal deployment in Wales and the UK. “Despite having the world’s largest pre-consented demonstration zone in North Wales, market mechanisms and the loss of access to European
funding schemes pose challenges to this innovative sector.”
Recognizing the importance of skills development, the report emphasizes regional initiatives aimed at fostering education and training for coastal communities. These efforts aim to raise awareness of the economic and job opportunities available and strengthen Wales’ capacity to deliver local, wellpaid, green jobs in the renewable energy industry. The report spotlights Wales for its dedication to renewable energy and the significant milestones achieved throughout the year.
Ground-breaking project
One notable achievement is the approval of Wales’ first FLOW farm, Erebus, developed by Blue Gem Wind. This ground-breaking project has the capacity to generate clean power for 93,000 homes while exemplifying Wales’ commitment to responsible environmental stewardship. Further strengthening Wales’ position as a marine energy hub, Magallanes Renovables received crucial UK government support to deploy their tidal stream technology to the Morlais Tidal Demonstration zone off the coast of Anglesey. This milestone will enable the first tidal array in Welsh waters, delivering reliable and predictable energy to up to 5,000 homes upon completion in 2025.
Quoted in the report, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “The Welsh government is making a huge commitment to the offshore renewable energy sector.
“I truly believe that it could be a catalyst to providing not only green
electrons and decarbonizing our communities and business, but also providing high quality career opportunities throughout Wales.
“We applaud the work of Marine Energy Wales and the wider marine energy sector and hope the great achievements made to date continue. The challenge of climate change facing all of us is too great and too important not to give our best efforts.” The future of Wales’ marine energy sector is promising, according to Marine Energy Wales. The State of the Sector Report underscores the potential economic benefits and opportunities that lie ahead. FLOW projects alone are projected to create a €1.16 billion economic opportunity in the next five years.
Tidal stream, supply chain diversification, wave energy, and tidal range technologies also demonstrate substantial growth potential, with estimated benefits of €303.9 million, €336.5 million, €137.4 million, and €80.3 million, respectively.
Tidal stream and supply chain are also set to benefit from this industry. Both are predicted to deliver an excess of €291.1 million to the Welsh economy. To fully harness these prospects and ensure a thriving marine energy sector, the report emphasizes the importance of strategic infrastructure investment, skills and talent development, and an industry supportive political environment to allow this industry to continue to soar to new heights, the report concluded.
By Amir GaranovicWhile the zest for a low-carbon energy future gains more ground, the European Parliament’s Environment and Industry Committees have voted to bolster the European Union’s efforts to slash the methane footprint from the energy sector by proposing to extend the scope of the methane emissions regulation with a new provision. This will put fossil energy imports – oil, gas, and coal – in the same boat from 2026, as importers will be required to comply with the regulation to curb the methane menace.
The EU Parliament’s Environment and Industry Committees adopted with 114 votes in favour, 15 against, and 3 abstentions, their position on reducing methane emissions in the energy sector on Wednesday, 26 April 2023. This is being undertaken to reach the EU’s climate goals and improve air quality. The new legislation is seen as the first aimed at cutting methane emissions. It
covers direct methane emissions not just from oil, gas and coal, but also from biomethane once it is injected into the gas network.
While the MEPs also want the new rules to include the petrochemicals sector, they urged the Commission to propose a binding 2030 reduction target for EU methane emissions for all
relevant sectors by the end of 2025, as member states should set national reduction targets as part of their integrated national energy and climate plans.
Thanks to this legislation, operators would be obliged to submit a methane leak detection and repair programme to the relevant national authorities six
months from the date of entry into force of the regulation. In addition, MEPs are demanding more frequent leak detection and repair surveys –compared to what the Commission is proposing – and want to strengthen the obligations to repair leaks, as operators should repair or replace all components found to be leaking methane immediately after detection or no later than five days.
Moreover, a ban on venting and flaring of methane from drainage stations by
2025 and from ventilation shafts by 2027 is envisaged within the text, ensuring safety for workers in coal mines while obliging the EU countries to establish mitigation plans for abandoned coal mines and inactive oil and gas wells.
As the EU is considered to be the world’s largest natural gas importer with energy imports making up over 80 per cent of the oil and gas consumed, MEPs propose that importers
of coal, oil and gas will have to demonstrate that the imported fossil energy also lives up to the requirements in the regulation from 2026. On the other hand, imports from countries with similar requirements for methane emissions would be exempted from EU rules.
Jutta Paulus, Group of the Greens/ European Free Alliance, DE, commented: “Today’s vote is a commitment to more climate protection and energy sovereignty in Europe. Without ambitious measures to reduce methane emissions, Europe will miss its climate targets and valuable energy will continue to be wasted.
“We call for ambitious and stringent methane reduction measures. In the energy sector, three-quarters of methane emissions can be avoided by simple measures and without large investments. As Europe imports more than 80 per cent of the fossil fuels it burns, it is essential to expand the scope of these rules to energy imports.”
The EU Parliament is slated to adopt its mandate during the 8-11 May 2023 Plenary session, which will form the basis for trilogue negotiations with the Council of the EU on the final text of the legislation. Methane is believed to be a powerful greenhouse gas and air pollutant, which is responsible for approximately a third of current global warming.
The energy sector accounts for around a fifth of human-made methane emissions while reductions of 45 per cent in these emissions by 2030 could avoid 0.3°C of global warming by 2045, according to UNEP.
Extending regulation to imports perceived as ‘good’
In a separate statement, the Environmental Defense Fund Europe (EDFE) – a non-governmental organisation looking for ways to clean the air, decarbonise shipping and reduce methane pollution – highlighted that the MEPs’ vote on the EU’s methane regulation was welcome. However, EDFE emphasises that there is no more time to waste to stop the leaks in a quest to reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas sector.
Flavia Sollazzo, Senior Director, EU Energy Transition, Environmental Defense Fund Europe, remarked: “The outcome of today’s ENVI/ITRE committee vote on an EU-wide, first-ofits-kind regulation to reduce methane emissions from the energy sector is a step in the right direction. While it could have been more ambitious in addressing emissions related to coal mining and natural gas imports, it is good to see the request for a commitment to an EU-wide methane reduction target and to extend the regulation to imports.
“When the regulation enters into force as agreed by the European Parliament, the oil and gas industry will have to comply
with more efficient obligations for measuring, reporting and verifying methane waste, and detecting and repairing leaks. The new regulation will also ban the harmful practice of non-emergency venting and flaring. To help slow global warming, we urgently need to stop wasting fossil fuels, as we transition to a sustainable energy system.”
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global industry emits 82.5 million metric tons of methane yearly. With the EU being the world’s largest importer of natural gas, its methane footprint outside its borders is three to eight times higher than that of domestic gas.
“There is still a lot of work ahead to effectively reduce methane emissions. I look forward to the trilogues and urge negotiators to match our ambition and secure a robust regulation that tackles this urgent problem effectively. This climate action is long overdue,” added Sollazzo.
Furthermore, an analysis by S&P Global, which was commissioned by the En-
vironmental Defense Fund, estimates that by cutting preventable losses in six key export regions, more than 80 billion cubic meters (bcm) of methane could be captured and profitably brought to market. This is almost 60 per cent of Europe’s pre-war annual imports from Russia.
The analysis also lays out specific steps that could bring 40 bcm of new supply to market – more than the total annual gas demand of France – in just two to three years, using export capacity either in place or under construction. EDFE claims that capturing this gas would avert 760 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent, an amount roughly the size of Germany’s total annual emissions.
“The window of opportunity to prevent further climate devastation is rapidly closing. And the ongoing unpredictability of fuel prices makes it economically wise even for industries to invest in capturing and utilising wasted gas. We cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away,” concluded Sollazzo.
By Melisa Cavcic
At the moment, 50 per cent of Denmark’s power system comes from renewable energy and there are days when everything is powered by only wind and solar power, however, backup capacity currently comes from oil or gas and a bit of coal.
During a press trip to Denmark that Offshore Energy and offshoreWIND. biz attended at the end of June, Edlefsen said that the target was to achieve 100 per cent green power by 2030, with the plan including hydrogen and storage as backup. In addition, Denmark aims to have no coal in the mix by 2028 and to stop extracting oil and gas from the North Sea entirely by 2050.
However, Edlefsen noted that hydrogen costs and that the plan is to reuse the natural gas system as hydrogen infrastructure as much as possible. Hydrogen and ammonia might also be a longer-term option for the Danish energy islands, but not in the short term.
Namely, the yet-to-be-built artificial North Sea energy island might include 0.8 GW for hydrogen overplanting, the Energinet VP said.
Energinet last month signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Polish natural gas transmission system operator (TSO) GAZ-SYSTEM to cooperate to ensure a secure and continuous supply of natural gas through the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline and development in new areas related to low and zero-carbon energy sources, including biomethane and hydrogen.
Power-to-X
To remind, Energinet and Evida were selected by the Danish government to own and operate the backbone of the country’s future hydrogen infrastructure. In April, the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) launched the worldfirst tender for Power-to-X (PtX) projects, making available DKK 1.25 billion (approximately €167.7 million) in state support for the production of PtX in the form of green hydrogen.
According to the Tender Conditions document, DEA and the Danish government are looking to achieve the cheapest and largest amount of green hydrogen production within budget. Just a few days ago, a new executive order came into force in Denmark that makes it possible to issue guarantees of origin for hydrogen, meaning that PtX actors can market and show that they trade in green hydrogen and use green hydrogen in their processes.
Speaking about cross-border cooperation on hydrogen, Denmark in March signed a cooperation agreement with Germany on green hydrogen and the integration of their energy systems. The government also recently concluded a Heads of Agreement (HoA) with the governments of South Africa and the Netherlands to launch a new innovative blended finance fund that will facilitate and accelerate the development of a green hydrogen sector and circular economy in South Africa.
By Nadja SkopljakOnce Denmark achieves its 2030 target of being 100 per cent powered by renewables, the plan is to have backup capacity from hydrogen and energy storage, according to Hanne Storm Edlefsen, Vice President of Energy Islands at Energinet.
The European Commission has supported two major ocean energy projects – led by Floating Power Plant and Simply Blue Group’s Saoirse Wave Energy – which will take a share of €3.6 billion of investment provided for 41 large-scale clean tech projects through the EU Innovation Fund.
With a focus on the REPowerEU Plan and phasing out Europe’s imports of Russian fossil fuels, the projects funded under the Innovation Fund cover a wide range of industries, such as cement, steel, advanced biofuels, sustainable aviation fuels, wind and solar energy, and renewable hydrogen and its derivatives.
The funding will contribute to the greening of significant sectors of the European economy, in particular those
that are difficult to decarbonize. The 41 projects were selected following the third call for large-scale projects, covering four topics: general decarbonization; industry electrification and hydrogen, clean tech manufacturing, and mid-sized pilots.
The two ocean energy projects, developed by Danish company Floating Power Plant and Irish-based Simply Blue Group through its Saoirse Wave Energy, were selected in the ‘mid-sized
pilots’ topic, that supported nine projects with a total of €250 million.
At the time of the launching of the call, it was stated that the maximum amount of funding support to be awarded per project for this topic would be limited to €40 million. Frans Timmermans, executive vice-president for the European Green Deal, said: “Today, the European Union is making an unprecedented investment of €3.6 billion in 41 clean tech projects across the continent.
“With investments in innovative solutions like these, we deliver on Europe’s green transition goals, support our industry, and bring energy security, safety and prosperity to future generations. Because we have put a price on carbon emissions, Europe is getting the additional financial firepower that enables these transformative investments.”
Floating Power Plant’s Seaworthy Seaworthy is a mid-size prototype demonstration project aiming to demonstrate dispatchable renewable power supply through smart integration of wave energy converters, a wind turbine, and a full hydrogen system
(electrolyzer, storage, and fuel cells) in a single semisubmersible platform.
The goal of the demonstrator, to be tested in Spain, is to advance proprietary PNS-P2X technology from TRL6 to TRL8, by building, testing and operating prototype at a scale considered suitable representative for validation of commercial-scale applications.
Saoirse wave energy project
Simply Blue Group’s Saoirse wave energy project is a wave energy demonstration project at a site located off the Irish coast, aiming to prove the viability of wave energy converter technology.
Saoirse will be the first full-scale wave
energy conversion test and demonstration project in Ireland. It will prove the viability of wave energy converter technology through long term deployment in the harsh, energetic conditions of the North Atlantic.
The Saoirse project is expected to show that wave energy technology is finally reaching maturity and allow Ireland to be first movers into this exciting new clean energy generation space. According to the information from Simply Blue Energy, the Saoirse project will be located off the west coast of Clare, and consist of a 5MW wave energy conversion array of approximately 15-16 wave energy units, some 4 kilometers from the coast.
A Swedish wave energy company CorPower Ocean is responsible for delivering the wave energy element as Simply Blue Energy’s OEM supplier and partner.
The selected projects were evaluated by independent experts against five award criteria: ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional technologies, level of innovation, operational, financial and technical maturity, scalability, and cost effectiveness.
In addition to the 41 projects selected for funding today, other promising but insufficiently mature projects will receive project development assistance from the European Investment Bank. These will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2023. At the end of the year, the Commission will launch the next call for proposals for large-scale projects under the Innovation Fund, with an increased budget of €4 billion.
By Amir GaranovicOn 25 May this year, Future Proof Shipping launched the first hydrogen powered zero emissions inland shipping container vessel – the H2 Barge 1. Since then, the vessel, previously known as FPS Maas, has been operating between the Port of Rotterdam and the BCTN terminal in Meerhout, Belgium.
The vessel is on charter to BCTN who operate it on behalf of Nike EMEA, based in nearby Laakdal. In a boost for maritime sustainability, H2 Barge 1 is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by in the region of 2000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
The vessel’s Captain, Dragoş Lupu graduated from naval high school in Romania back in 1988 and has, since then, worked
exclusively in the inland shipping sector. Having sailed aboard the ship for over a month now, Captain Lupu gives his verdict on the performance so far.
“My first impressions have been surprisingly good. I say surprisingly because I anticipated that it would take me some time to get used to this new ship but, actually, the operation is the same as on a conventional vessel. It’s been very easy
to get to grips with it.” One of the characteristics that Captain Lupu expected to be a challenge was the vessel’s reduced propulsion.
“Previously the vessel sailed with 1100hp, while now it has has 1088hp. However, this is certainly sufficient for the vessel’s needs. I think it’s fair to say, the engineers – who have committed themselves body and soul to the devel-
opment of this vessel – have done an excellent job.”
Captain Lupu says the vessel has got off to a good start and that the crew take pride in being associated with its sustainable profile. “The vessel is performing very well, and we are all proud to be a part of this new chapter in maritime history. We take great satisfaction from the fact that our work is not creating emissions. With rising demand for maritime sustainability, we are able to look with confidence towards the future, with all its hopes for a cleaner, healthier environment.”
With emissions so significantly reduced, the benefits for the environment are clear. However, as Captain Lupu points out, the H2 Barge 1 also offers a number of benefits for those on board.
“The advantages of a hydrogen powered vessel are significant, and they are also plain to see. For one thing, the ship is practically silent – which must surely be of benefit to life on and under the water as well as those aboard. Also, there is no smell of exhaust gas in the air, and, with no exhaust gas, the ship stays very clean. It’s a very pleasant environment to work in.”
“That’s important to us; we spend a lot of time on board. The ship is a second home for us. As crew we’re co-habiting, it’s like being in a family.” For Captain Lupu, this comparison is particularly relevant; his son Alex sailing aboard the H2 Barge 1.
“This all started when Alex was in high school. He had vacation so I brought him onboard with me so he could see where I worked. After that, even though he has a degree in another field, he chose a career in navigation.”
Alex is just one of the new generation of inland shippers that Future Proof Shipping is looking to work with as it develops its fleet of hydrogen powered vessels for the future, as Director of Operation Fokke van der Veen explains, “As we seek to further maritime sustainability, we are looking not only to build a sustainable fleet, but a sustainable team. This includes a crew with a passion for the environment and its stewardship and who would be proud to be part of the zero emissions future we are working towards."
By Ben LittlerThroughout the maritime industry, companies are looking for ways to increase efficiency, cut fuel consumption and reduce emissions. As yet, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution and the industry continues to consider a wide range of options. For Blue Wasp Marine and Groot Ship Design, the answer – or at least a significant part of it – is blowing in the wind.
Earlier this year, the wind assisted propulsion specialist and naval architect announced a collaboration. Together, the two companies are working towards the development of designs for wind assisted vessels to support the decarbonisation of the maritime industry.
While the formal collaboration commenced in May, the relationship between
Blue Wasp and Groot actually stretches further back in time, as Jan Willem Cuperus, MD of Groot Ship Design explains.
“We’ve known of Blue Wasp for a while, at a distance. Around two and a half years ago, we became involved in our first wind assisted propulsion project. We could see that the market was looking increasingly in this direction. We are
a traditional naval architect and didn’t know a lot about wind assisted propulsion. At a certain point we connected with Blue Wasp to see if we could help one another."
The result of this was that Blue Wasp co-founder Nico van der Kolk took up a secondment at Groot Ship Design
Blue Wasp Marine and Groot Ship Design have seen growing interested in wind assisted propulsion in recent months
alongside his work at Blue Wasp. It was a rewarding process, benefitting both companies and bringing together expertise in both traditional naval architecture and wind assisted propulsion.
“I’d studied naval architecture at TU Delft,” says Nico. “As a result, I had the theory. Working with Bart Groot gave me the opportunity to put this into practice, turning theory into a ready to operate design. I learned not only about naval architecture, but also about the commercial angle and the relationships
between different parties, classification societies and shipyards, for example. It was, effectively, an apprenticeship in the business of naval architecture.”
Jan Willem nods in recognition at this description. “We are a hands-on company. We’re not aiming to make studies and reports. Our aim is to combine theoretical and practical knowledge with the input of the client to create designs that can be built, not in ten years, but tomorrow.”
Growing interest in wind assist
This requires, he says, an awareness of alternative vessel technologies, including wind assisted propulsion – something that has become of increasing interest over the past few years.
“A few years ago, people would laugh at the idea that we would go back to putting sails on ships. Today, people are taking it very seriously. Wind assist is contributing to the new designs that are being created and will, I am confident, make a significant contribution to bringing down maritime emissions.”
To realise the potential of wind assist, Jan Willem states, Groot aims to take it from the theoretical realms and make it readily available onboard. This is where Blue Wasp comes in.
Blue Wasp has developed a flexible, customisable performance prediction solution based on over ten years of PhD research. The Pelican programme offers a prompt evaluation into the potential of
wind assisted propulsion to increase vessel efficiency, thereby informing investment analyses and design processes.
“The idea behind Pelican is straightforward,” explains Nico. “It aims to reduce the risks involved with adding wind assisted propulsion to a vessel. With Pelican we can accurately predict the results of wind assist on a vessel prior to construction, showing if it will be beneficial and how much efficiency is to be gained.”
Armed with such information, the naval architects can then set about optimising the design to achieve the best possible results, says Jan Willem.
“If you can see efficiency gains on a conventional design there’s a good chance you can improve the results by designing a dedicated hull shape that takes wind assist into account.”
Presently, the companies are cooperating on a number of projects that are planning to use wind assisted propulsion to increase efficiency. Amongst these is the Williwaw project. Named for a sudden gust of wind descending from mountains to the sea, Williwaw is the development of a 1300 TEU capacity container vessel, designed for & Boreé.
The vessels will carry six large area wing sails. These, in conjunction with its methanol-based propulsion system will help achieve a significant reduction in emissions.
Also in conjunction with Zephyr & Boreé, as well as with Dykstra Naval Architects, the two companies are working on the WINDCOOP project. This foresees the creation of a small fleet of wind assisted 100 TEU capacity ships to operate between the South of France and Madagascar.
What makes this project stand out is the requirement that the vessels look like sailing ships. It is the intention that, along with their cargo, the WINDCOOP vessels will carry passengers looking for a traditional maritime experience. As such, the vessels have been designed primarily as sailing ships, adapted for the transportation of containers.
Both of these examples feature vessels dedicated to certain trades and specific routes. This has provided a useful lesson for the collaborative partners.
“If you have a vessel operating on a fixed route or a certain trade, then it is more straightforward to assess if it is worthwhile designing a ship dedicated to this profile, including the wind assist device,”
states Jan Willem. “You have a clear picture of how the vessel is operating and can check circumstances such as sea states and wind direction on its routes. That way you can better advise the client on the sort of design that will work best for their needs.”
In addition to these two projects, Blue Wasp is also supporting Groot in the development of a new generation of the designers’ GROOT XL vessel, an MPV/ Minibulker in the range of 5200 – 7300 DWT. The first series is based on a range of vessels suitable to sail in ice with iceclass 1A. The second series is a ‘Light’ version, without iceclass, and with diesel-electric propulsion and build on Wind Support devices.
“This is a different approach,” says Jan Willem. “This is not a vessel dedicated to a fixed operating profile. The GROOT XL is a response to the aging European short sea fleet. With an average age of 25-30 years, a lot of these vessels are approaching end of life. The next generation of vessel operators are likely to be
aiming for reduced emissions, therefore we have added a foundation which gives the easy option of integrating a wind device.”
With the increasingly stringent environmental regulations expected to come into force in the coming years, vessel operators will certainly be looking for ways to reduce their ecological footprint. It remains to be seen how big a role wind assisted propulsion will play. However, Jan Willem and Nico are confident it offers a viable solution for many operators. First though, the partners are aware that they need to prove the credentials of wind assist.
“It’s a flywheel you need to generate,” Jan Willem concludes. “It’s important to get the first vessels in the water. These will show the results of wind assisted propulsion. Once we can demonstrate that vessels can sail with these devices and the benefits they can bring, then we expect we will see trust in this solution growing and interest increasing.”
By Ben Littler
For over 75 years already, REINTJES Benelux –based in Antwerp – handles sales and services of REINTJES gearboxes and reversing gears for Dutch shipping for short-sea, sea going, dredging, fishery, inland vessels and luxurious yachts.
Our service department is available for all spare parts as well as repairs. Whether it is an inspection or repair, our team of experienced service engineers is always there for you and assures you the reliability and quality REINTJES represents.
Damen Shipyards, DNV and NAPA have together made a major advance in ship design processes by using the new Open Class 3D Exchange (OCX) standard to involve classification societies at an earlier stage in the design phase of a project than before. This increases designer and owner confidence in the concept design and accelerates the entire design approval process without any loss of detail or rigour.
OCX is a new standard for 3D model-based class approval, developed to break down the barriers between different design and classification software platforms so as to enable the smooth exchange of idealized geometry and metadata. The OCX 3D model can also replace the traditional 2D
structure drawings for classification purposes, thereby saving time for the yards and allowing class associations to respond more quickly to designers’ needs.
It is the result of the joint industry project ‘Approved (2016-2020)’ headed by
DNV and which is now owned and managed by the OCX Consortium established in 2021. Consisting of more than thirty industry leaders, it is committed to promoting and maintaining the standard, including all the major classification societies as well as leading CAD providers, designers and yards.
With increasing pressure to deliver vessel designs quickly, the early engagement of classification societies can increase designer and owner confidence in the concept design. With this in mind, Damen Engineering involved DNV classification experts in the first review of its new design for a Commissioning Service Operation “Walk to Work” Vessel.
This involved using cutting-edge technology based on 3D model exchange
and approval through the OCX file format. Damen engineers were already using NAPA’s 3D design tools, which enable the export of 3D models in the OCX format. This functionality allowed Damen and DNV to work in parallel on the same 3D model, avoiding the time and effort previously needed to agree and prepare 2D documentation.
“Environmental, safety, regulatory and other external pressures, combined with the competitive need to create
ever-better designs, meant that doing things the way we always did them was no longer sufficient,” says Katarzyna Romantowska-Jaskólska, Manging Director at Damen Engineering. “The OCX format allowed us to take a new approach that is beneficial to everyone involved in the development of the vessel design and the project execution process. In collaboration with DNV and NAPA, we arrived at a solution that connects disciplines and facilitates quick decision-making while reducing risks in the early stages of the design.
“The earlier class starts the design approval process, the easier it is to find good rule-compliant design solutions in cooperation with the yards,” adds Ivar Håberg, Director of Approval at DNV. “By using the OCX file format to exchange information on 3D design models, we can interact and cooperate more efficiently with the designers and yards in the early design development phase.”
“What OCX does is that it brings together the engineers, shipyard and classification society in a single environment in real time,” continues Katarzyna Romantowska-Jaskólska. “The process starts with the engineer or designer creating a basic model that can then be filled out or certain spaces set aside to be worked on later. At the same time the classification society can monitor progress in real time to ensure compliance with rules and regulations as well as strength and other parameters. The format also allows for the model to be exported to another parties, such as the owner, for viewing in a 3D environment.
“By accelerating communications, questions can be raised straight away over the phone as all those involved are looking at the same images. The information entered is then integrated across all the areas of knowledge so the impact of a change made in one area can be seen clearly right across the design. By combining the two environments – classification and design –in a single interface we find that the average time needed for the basic design is reduced by up to 30%.”
There is still some way to go before OCX enters the mainstream of ship design. The Japanese shipbuilding sector is the most advanced in the adoption of the OCX standard. Damen is leading the pack in Europe and there the next move is to roll it out across the various product groups. The format itself is also developing with DNV very much engaged in demonstrating the benefits that come from accelerating the classification process. Progress will be made on a project by project basis,
with shipyards hopefully experiencing the benefits to be had from the concurrent design process.
The move towards decarbonising the shipping industry is expected to contribute to this. The OCX standard will enable owners to be confident that their new vessels are compliant with the necessary regulation from the outset, with the classification societies able to monitor and advise right from the start and the implications of any changes immediately apparent right across the vessel.
“The benefits of this new way of designing for compliance may not be immediately apparent to most owners,” concludes Katarzyna Romantowska-Jaskólska, “but they may well feel that everything works more smoothly and efficiently from the outset. It’s going to take a few years for the maritime sector to fully adopt it, but the result will be better quality and faster deliveries.”
Contact
winches | capstans fairleads | warping-rollers multipurpose chocks towing | mooring deck & quay equipment
www.lemans-nederland.nl
Bezoekadres: Canadaweg 8, 4661 PZ Halsteren Postbus: Box 527, 4600 AM Bergen op Zoom, Nederland t 0164 68 00 97, info@lemans-nederland.eu
Offshore Wind Oil & Gas
Decommissioning Labour Market
They already joined:
Abeko Alphatron Marine Atlas Professionals BD Containers Beansters Biardo Survival Suits BK Ingenieurs
Blue Offshore Bluestream Boskalis Bota Transport Braanker Logistics Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services
Braspenning Group Bredenoord Breman Offshore Building Careers Bureau Veritas Bus Industrial Tools
Certion CHC Helicopters C-Ventus - Offshore windfarm services
Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam
Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf de Vries & van de Wiel Deep - Hydrography & Geophysics Den Helder Airport
Deutsche Windtechnik Dexis Netherlands DHSS Digitaaleon Dirkzwager Dutch Marine Contractors Eager.one
Eagle Access ELA Container Offshore EMR European Metal Recycling Eneco Equans EST-Floattech eWorks
FMTC Safety Gemba Service Gemeente Amsterdam Gemeente Beverwijk Gemeente Velsen Gemeente Zaanstad
Gezamenlijke Brandweer Amsterdam Gibb Safety & Survival Golden Arrow Hogeschool van Amsterdam
Industrieel Klimmen INTRAMAR Insurances Intures Industry IRO Isolatie Combinatie Beverwijk Iv-Consult
KenzFigee KH Engineering Knowledge Insight KNRM Koole Contractors Kuhlman Repko Shipping KVSA
LiftWerx Loodswezen - regio Amsterdam-IJmond Lubbers Logistics Group Mammoet Nederland MBO College Airport
Meemaken Navingo Neptune Energy NoordWest Services&Security NorthCmedia Nova College NWEA
Oceanwide Otos LMR systems OV IJmond Passer Lars Pentacon Engineering Peterson Energy Logistics Point B
Port of Amsterdam
Port Towage Amsterdam Rabobank metropoolregio Amsterdam Reym Rietlanden Terminal
Roodenberg Staalkabels Rusch Offshore Services Schouten Energy Seafox SeaRenergy Selmers SEW Energy
Shiptron Silver Flight SolarDuck Spliethoff Transport Stichting Vrienden Technisch en Maritiem vmbo Velsen
Stork Industry Services Strohm Symphony Wave Power Tata Steel Techport TechRent TenneT TMA Logistics
Topshore TOS Unique Lights V&SH Offshore / Reynaert van der Valk Taxiservice van Gool hef- en hijstechniek
Van Laar MaritimeVan Leeuwen Zwanenburg Sloopwerken Van Oord Offshore Wind Vattenfall VCK Travel
Venus & de Waard Vestas Offshore Service Wind Cable Services Windcat Workboats WinSys IT Solutions WorldEmp Zbridge Zeehaven IJmuiden NV
Denmark and Germany sign
Bornholm Energy Island agreement
German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, and Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard, have signed an agreement for the Bornholm Energy Island in the Baltic Sea. This is the first legally binding cooperation agreement in Europe on a joint offshore energy project under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
The world’s first ammonia-ready containership CMA CGM Masai Mara has celebrated two major milestones in its construction process. Namely, the engineering marvel was christened at a special ceremony hosted by the Chinese shipbuilder Qingdao Shipyard on April 27, before being officially delivered on May 23.
The 5,900 TEU vessel was built for Belgian shipowner CMB and the boxship will be operated by French liner major CMA CGM. The CMA CGM Masai Mara stretches 240 meters in length, 42.8 meters in width, and has a maximum packing capacity of 6,014 boxes, including 1,150 refrigerated containers. Its advanced features include a high level of automation and an innovative ammonia/diesel dual-fuel propulsion system.
Chinese oil and gas company CNOOC Limited has commissioned what is said to be China’s first offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration project. The CCS project, officially commissioned on 1 June, is an auxiliary part of the Enping 15-1 oilfield development and can store more than 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide.
According to CNOOC, the CCS module can capture and process the CO2 produced from the oilfield and inject it into the saline water layer at a depth of around 800 meters under the seabed to realize zero emissions of carbon dioxide. “The successful commissioning of the Enping 15-1 oilfield CCS demonstration project will strongly support the company’s efforts in increasing reserves and production and pursuing green and low-carbon development,” said Zhou Xinhuai, CNOOC’s CEO. “CNOOC Limited will continue to gear up its R&D activities, to promote the green development of offshore oilfields, and explore ‘offshore storage of onshore carbon’ to provide a new solution of carbon reduction for the high-emitting enterprises in the coastal areas.”
The new EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED), agreed upon by the member states in March, also includes cross-border projects. Under the EU RED, in this regard, each member state must develop a legally binding framework for cross-border cooperation projects. Denmark and Germany have now met this requirement with the signed intergovernmental agreement.
What this intergovernmental agreement regulates is sharing of the renewable target quantities from Bornholm Energy Island and counting the capacity towards the German targets under the country’s Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and towards the German and Danish contributions to the EU target under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
Bornholm Energy Island, located in the Danish sector of the Baltic Sea, will facilitate connecting at least 3 GW of offshore wind generation capacity to the grid by the early 2030s. The electricity will then be transported via new grid connections to Germany (2 GW ) and to the Danish mainland (1.2 GW).
Ammonia-ready CMA CGM Masai Mara delivered
Denmark-based NKT has received a firm order from ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) to design, manufacture, and install the complete 320 kV HVDC export power cable system for the 1,400 MW East Anglia Three offshore wind farm in the UK.
NKT signed a contract with the project developer, ScottishPower Renewables, in July last year. Under the contract, the Danish company will be responsible for the design, manufacture, and installation of a 320 kV HVDC export power cable system which includes approxi-
mately 2 x 150 kilometres of offshore cable and about 2 x 40 kilometres of
onshore cables. NKT expects to deliver the project in 2025, the company said.
According to reports by the Beijing-based state-run foreign-language news channel, CGTN, this world’s first test to produce hydrogen by in-situ direct electrolysis of hydrogen production technology without desalination of seawater was conducted on 2 June and verified by a team of experts from the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).
Hydrogen production technology with the direct seawater electrolysis method has been tested at Xonghua Bay offshore wind farm in Fujian, southeast China.
It was reported that the platform had been stable for more than 240 hours after enduring the test of force eight wind speeds, one-metre-high waves and a rainstorm, validating the feasibility and stability of direct seawater electrolysis technology in a real ocean environment.
Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), an independent not-forprofit technology consortium, has signed a knowledge partnership agreement with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) to accelerate decarbonisation in the shipping sector.
As explained, the partnership aims to help bridge the transparency gap between digitalisation and decarbonisation by enabling the secure and scalable exchange of data pertaining to decarbonisation initiatives.
Decarbonising the global shipping industry is estimated to require
between US$1 trillion to US$1.4 trillion in investment. To bridge this gap and successfully achieve a low-carbon future there are many challenges that need to be addressed and choices that need to be made.
Core to this is a need to accurately measure and track emissions reduction data across the supply chain to ensure compliance, access to green financing as well as provide accountability of decarbonisation investments.
hydrogen production sites would benefit Lhyfe and Capital Energy, mainly in two key areas: economic benefits through the economies of scale achieved, and social benefits through the growing industrial overlap of the projects, given that a greater number and variety of suppliers and specialists will be required, according to the press release.
Lhyfe and Capital Energy have signed a collaboration agreement for the joint development of offshore renewable hydrogen projects in Spain and Portugal. Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to create hydrogen production sites at
some of the offshore wind farm sites currently being developed by Capital Energy.
The Spanish energy company already has a development pipeline of more than 7.5 GW in both countries. The joint installation of offshore wind farms and
“Through this alliance, we intend to use some of the energy generated by our offshore wind farms to produce hydrogen, which will help to drive the energy transition in a balanced way and solve potential bottlenecks in the electricity system. It will also increase the socio-economic benefits of our offshore projects, with greater investment and more skilled jobs,” said Pablo Alcón, Offshore Director at Capital Energy.
Jan De Nul, together with its partner LS Cable & System, has completed the installation of the second subsea cable for the Hollandse Kust West Alpha offshore wind farm grid connection off the coast of Egmond aan Zee for TenneT.
The subsea cable installation was carried out by the cable-laying vessel Isaac Newton, the work vessel Adhémar de Saint-Venant and a remote-controlled cable burial vehicle.
Denmark-based shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) is ready to make pioneering moves in the shipping industry with the retrofit of an existing container ship to a dual-fuel methanol-powered vessel scheduled for 2024. The company revealed that the first engine retrofit in the industry is to be conducted in the middle of 2024, noting its intention to replicate on sister vessels when going for a special survey in 2027.
To this end, Maersk has contracted German MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) to retrofit the engine. Replacing engine parts and thereby making the
engine able to operate on methanol is a rather complex task, but only a part of the larger retrofit operation. For instance, new fuel tanks, fuel
preparation room and fuel supply system are also a part of the retrofitting the vessel for green methanol, according to Maersk.
Two survey activities are planned to start this month at the Empire Wind offshore wind farm site located about 20 miles south of Long Island.
The first is a short-term underwater sediment survey campaign, planned to begin in late June. The sediment survey experts will sample the seabed along the proposed Empire Wind 1 and 2 cable routes.
No excavation or dredging will take place, no sonar will be used, and no subsurface sound outside of the normal mechanical operation will be produced during this process, according to the press release.
Surveying is expected to begin in late June and is planned to be completed by 15 August 2023. Up to 35 sediment core samples will be analysed to inform the design of underwater cables for the Empire 1 and 2 offshore wind farms.
Brazil’s Ministry of Mining and Energy and Energy Research Office (EPE) have published a new version of the country’s offshore wind roadmap following recent updates of the regulatory framework for energy generation. According to a recent report by Reuters, the country’s government also plans to establish a regulative framework for offshore wind and green hydrogen by the end of this year. The new offshore wind roadmap now includes considerations regarding the assignment of federal areas for offshore wind development.
First published in 2020, the roadmap identifies 700 GW of offshore wind potential off Brazilian states’ coasts, while World Bank’s estimates from 2019 put the country’s technical potential at 1,228 GW: 748 GW for floating wind and 480 GW for fixed-bottom. Reuters reported on 27 June that Brazil’s Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira revealed the government planned to pass a regulatory framework for offshore wind and green hydrogen by the end of this year. Brazil took its first major step forward on offshore wind last year, when the government issued a Decree which enables the identification and assignment of physical spaces and national resources within the country’s inland waters, the territorial sea, the offshore exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf for the development of offshore wind projects.
The country has also received a show of massive interest from energy companies into building offshore wind farms in its waters. So far, 74 applications for environmental investigation licences in connection with offshore wind projects have been submitted to the Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA), totalling almost 183 GW of capacity across all the proposed projects.
German engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions has teamed up with Shell to drive decarbonisation efforts forward by developing low-carbon energy solutions, which will facilitate the transition to netzero. This encompasses carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), green-fuels innovation, and clean energy supply.
The two players joined forces thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will enable them to explore the potential of combining their individual competencies and technologies to achieve their climate goals and support their customers in their decarbonisation efforts. This MoU was signed by the CEO of MAN Energy Solutions and Shell’s Vice President Downstream Projects in Houston, Texas, on 27 June 2023.
Dr Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, remarked: “As we navigate the transition to a netzero future, strong partnerships become crucial in driving meaningful change. We are very excited to embark on this partnership with Shell. Together, we will leverage our collective strengths and expertise to accelerate the development and deployment of sustainable energy solutions. Catering to sectors that are essential to the world economy, we aim to provide future-ready technologies to bring down emissions that are considered hard to abate.”
Ørsted has designed and developed its own uncrewed surface vessel (USV) for offshore metocean measurement campaigns. The USV, which has also achieved DNV’s type validation as a floating LiDAR system, is set to enter serial production.
The company, whose employees invented the concept which has now been patented, says its vessel is the first USV in the industry for offshore metocean measurement campaigns and that with a broad range of measurements it is able to collect, it is essential for Ørsted’s early-phase
development activities prior to the construction of new offshore wind farms.
“What’s so special about our USV concept is that it can bring our measurement equipment to and from our offshore sites without the need for large, specialised support vessels,
and, while on site, it can operate autonomously for extended periods of time, measuring large amounts of data that can be sent onshore and processed in real time”, said Frederik Søndergaard Hansen, Programme Manager and co-inventor of the USV concept.
Fugro has secured a contract with France’s Directorate General of Energy and Climate (DGEC) and Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE) to perform a ground investigation campaign set to support the development of future wind farms in French waters. The acquired geodata will be used by pre-selected developers for their
preliminary engineering design studies and future tenders for offshore wind projects in the South Atlantic zone of the Bay of Biscay. Fugro said it would mobilize its newest vessel Fugro Quest in July, which will acquire geotechnical data across a 430 km2 area in a region known for its challenging offshore conditions.
GEOxyz has been selected by the Dutch-German transmission system operator (TSO) TenneT to carry out geophysical and geotechnical surveys for the export cable route for the Nederwiek III offshore wind farm (NW3) in the Netherlands.
The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and TenneT are planning an underground high-voltage connection from the Nederwiek offshore wind farm in the North Sea to the municipality of Geertruidenberg or Moerdijk.
TenneT awarded the Belgium-based company the geophysical and geotechnical route survey for the inland section in the lake and riverine
environments from Stellendam to Geertruidenberg and optionally the offshore section near the Nederwiek offshore wind farm and the nearshore realm south of the Port of Rotterdam. For the inland and nearshore sections, GEOxyz will mobilise Geo-
surveyor VII and Geosurveyor V and for the offshore works, Geo Ocean III or Geo Ocean VI are scheduled. Ultra shallow waters and land sections will be covered by the company’s Geodrone ASV and aerial UAV team.
November 7-10 2023, Rotterdam Ahoy
NL Pavilion hall 1
NL Pavilion hall 8
Iberdrola, ACE Terminal and Hynetwork Services have signed two agreements to bolster the establishment of the green hydrogen maritime corridor between Spain and the Netherlands. The agreements were signed in June when the Executive Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galan, received His Majesty the King of the Netherlands at the Puertollano plant.
Through this new partnership, Iberdrola aims to transport green ammonia to ACE Terminal’s import facilities in the Port of Rotterdam, to handle and store, and convert ammonia into green hydrogen, for end use in industry, or direct use in shipping and other industries in northwestern Europe.
Transport and distribution will be carried out through the Dutch national hydrogen network of Gasunie’s subsidiary Hynetwork Services in the European market to customers in the chemical, steel, refining and fertilizer industries. Iberdrola further explained that these entities are established in clusters such as those in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Zeeland and Chemelot in the Netherlands and northwestern Europe.
Last December, Iberdrola reached an agreement with the Port of Rotterdam to export green hydrogen and its derivatives to the Netherlands and now takes a step forward in its commitment to promote the decarbonisation of industrial consumers in northern Europe with the newly signed agreements.
Oslo-headquartered Fred. Olsen 1848 has launched a new solution said to unlock the potential of near- and offshore floating solar by allowing PV modules to move freely and independently.
The solution named Bolette is said to be capable of handling high wave loads in combination with wind, which represents the “main challenge” for floating solar. According to Fred. Olsen 1848, the technology allows the PV modules to move freely and independently within a rope mesh, distributing the forces to the mooring system, handling both wave and wind loads as a result.
Bolette is designed with an integrated solution for operation and maintenance, it is easily scalable and can be tailored to each individual project, the company said, adding that all components are easily sourced. In addition, with sustainability in focus, all components are tagged and can be recycled after decommissioning.
OMV Norge, a subsidiary of Austria’s oil and gas company OMV, has received consent from Norway’s offshore safety regulator for exploration drilling in the Norwegian Sea, using one of Transocean’s semi-submersible rigs.
The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) recently gave OMV consent for exploration drilling in blocks 6607/3 and 6607/6 in the Norwegian Sea. The prospect, Velocette, is located in production licence 1016, which was awarded on 1 March 2019 and is valid until 1 March 2026.
Mitsubishi Turbocharger and Engine Europe B.V. (MTEE) and the STORM-Group have signed a Letter Of Intent (LOI). Both companies aim to jointly develop a Dual Fuel Methanol/Diesel Retrofit Kit for inland shipping. Koedood Marine Group, part of the STORM-Group, will market this new technology by utilizing its extensive network within the marine industry.
This Letter Of Intent aims to align the expectations of Mitsubishi and STORM for developing the Marine Dual Fuel Methanol/Diesel Retrofit Kit for Mitsubishi Marine Engine, contributing to carbon neutrality in marine transportation.
"Like all industries, commercial marine contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for about 3% of global CO2 emissions. The combustion engine itself is not the problem but foremost the usage of fossil fuels and we need to change this way of operation! Methanol promises
highly reduced emissions due to the fact that once it is burned in an engine it only releases the CO2 it captures in its production and releases no sulfuric oxide (SOx) and much lower levels of soot and nitrogen oxide (NOx). Thus methanol is a fuel which promises reduced emissions when used in a combustion engine", says Timo Schlotzhauer, Managing Director August STORM GmbH & Co. KG.
Subsea7 and EnBW have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly study several offshore wind-powered hydrogen production concepts. Within the framework of a study, the two partners will explore the technical and commercial elements of green offshore hydrogen production, from both pilot and commercial scale facilities, considering bottom-fixed and floating options.
EnBW will undertake studies on wind farm design and optimisation as well as provide operational and maintenance expertise to the overall technical and economic evaluation. Subsea7 will be responsible for the research on subsea electrical and flowline infrastructure, flow assurance, and integration of the hydrogen production system on wind turbine foundations or separate platforms.
The companies will jointly perform an economic analysis to establish a commercial model and determine the development and operational cost with the ultimate goal of establishing the levelised cost of hydrogen and the technical and economic potential of the different offshore hydrogen production solutions.
AIM-listed Synergia Energy has been awarded a license under the North Sea Transition Authority’s first carbon storage licensing round, which it sees as an important step for its carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.
According to Synergia, the CS01_2022_APP25 (Camelot) license application was made jointly with its 50:50 partner, Wintershall Dea, and the award of this carbon storage license marks “a significant milestone” for the Medway Hub CCS project. A pre-FEED study has been completed by Axis Well Technology, which confirms the technical viability of the project.
Roland Wessel, Synergia’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The company has been working closely with
Wintershall Dea over the last 12 months to develop the Medway Hub CCS project and prepare the carbon storage license applications. Synergia is delighted to have Wintershall Dea as partners in the Medway Hub CCS project given Wintershall Dea’s significant involvement in CCS projects in Norway and Denmark.”
underwent benchmarking tests and technology and system optimisation. Through this first phase of trials, Lhyfe also developed software and algorithm building blocks necessary to manage the site remotely and to enable Sealhyfe to operate fully autonomously.
The offshore hydrogen production platform that Lhyfe is testing in France, named Sealhyfe, began producing its first kilograms of offshore hydrogen on 20 June after it was towed last month to the SEM-REV offshore test site which is connected to BW Ideol’s floating wind turbine Floatgen. Sealhyfe is capable of producing up to 400 kilograms of hydrogen per day.
With the start-of-production milestone now reached, the platform has
entered the second phase of testing, which focuses on producing hydrogen in offshore conditions, after eight months of being tested at a quay in the Port of Saint-Nazaire, starting in September 2022.
Sealhyfe comprises a 1 MW electrolyser, supplied by Plug, mounted on GEPS Techno’s WAVEGEM floating platform which has been re-engineered to stabilise the production unit at sea. During the eight months of testing at the port, the platform
The company says that, following the first testing phase, it has already updated its specifications for all its sites, both onshore and offshore, and that all of its units will benefit from the operating optimisations trialled in the Sealhyfe pilot project. At Centrale Nantes’s SEM-REV offshore testing site, operated by the OPEN-C Foundation and located 20 kilometres off the French coast, in the Atlantic Ocean, Sealhyfe is connected to the site’s subsea hub via an umbilical cable that was specially designed for hydrogen application. After the platform was towed and connected to the hub, the system was restarted and on stream in just 48 hours, according to Lhyfe.
The government of France has committed to provide at least €65 million of funding and dedicated revenue support for the pioneering tidal energy farm FloWatt, in an effort to support the commercialization of tidal energy industry.
Flowatt will be the biggest tidal farm in the world, with the most turbines and largest capacity – a true flagship project. Due to start operating in 2026, France’s first tidal pilot farm will meet the electricity needs of 20,000 people for 20 years.
FloWatt is a strategic collaboration between project developer Qair, technology developer HydroQuest and industrial partner Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN).
Building on a successful two-year test program in Paimphol-Bréhat, the seven 2.5MW turbines will be installed in one of the most powerful tidal sites in the world, Normandy’s Raz Blanchard. Agnès Pannier-Runacher said: “Renewable marine energies are a pillar of our energy strategy. Offshore wind power is the main axis, but we must also develop other marine sectors, in the context of diversification and decarbonization of our energy mix, as two thirds of our energy is still of fossil origin.
“This is what we are doing today by supporting the FloWatt tidal turbine pilot farm, a key project to consolidate our tidal turbine industry. This support is also in line with the objective that we share with the President of the Republic: to reindustrialize the country and support emerging sectors, as we did with offshore wind power 15 years ago and as we are doing today with tidal energy.”
Sales
Ruud Aantjes | ra@navingo.com
Mariska Jongbloed | mjl@navingo.com
Cas Teensma | ct@navingo.com
Lev Bondarevski | lb@navingo.com
Editorial
Jaap Proost | jp@navingo.com
Coco Kossmann | ck@navingo.com
Adrijana Buljan | abu@navingo.com
Amir Garanovic | aga@navingo.com
Jasmina Ovcina Mandra | jo@navingo.com
Melisa Cavcic | mca@navingo.com
Nadja Skopljak | nskj@navingo.com
Ben Littler | benlittler@hotmail.co.uk
Marketing
Marleen Varekamp | mv@navingo.com
Printing Grafisch Bedrijf Crezée www.crezee.nl
Cover Photo
OTARY OFFSHORE ENERGY | Van der Kloet Foto & Videoproducties www.kloet-foto.nl
© 2023 Navingo BV. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without the permission of the copyright owner. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, neither the publisher nor the editor are responsible for the views and opinions expressed in this publication or for any inaccuracies in the articles. About: Offshore Energy Magzine is a publication by Navingo BV, a maritime multi media company based in the Netherlands.
Jan van Galenstraat 56 3115 JG Schiedam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)10 2092 600
Email: info@navingo.com www.navingo.com
Email: info@offshore-energy.biz www.offshore-energy.biz
OUT MAY 2022
OUT
•
