OGV Renewables Issue 8

Dear Readers,

DIRECTOR

Welcome to the latest edition of ‘OGV Renewables Magazine’ where we explore the changing landscape of renewable energy and the ongoing energy transition. In this issue, we are thrilled to welcome Flotation Energy as our front page partner and you can read all about how they are pioneering a new era in offshore wind employment on pages 4-5 inside.

In this issue, we had the privilege of sitting down with the Business Development Manager of Proserv - Callum Maxwell, where he told us all about his journey as to how he got into offshore wind from working with ORE Catapult, to now helping to lead the organisations’ development into some of the largest offshore projects in the UK. In particular, their new ECG technology which is a holistic cable monitoring system is fascinating, so make sure and listen to the full podcast to hear how its helping their customer base!

We also have articles from Three60 energy, First Marine Services, Sustainable Solutions, Flare, the Net Zero Technology Centre, ETZ and Zestas, keeping us informed on the latest news within this emerging sector, so be sure to check them out.

As always, we also have the latest news across Wind, Hydrogen & CCS, Geothermal and Electrification as well as analytics from Westwood Global Energy Group, project information from the EIC and contract wins from Infinity Partnership.

Warm regards,

DAN HYLAND –

PIONEERING A NEW ERA OF UK OFFSHORE JOBS WITH FLOATING WIND

By Alexander Quayle, Project Director, Flotation Energy and Chris Hill, UK Managing Director, Vårgrønn

As a relatively new technology, significant parts of the supply chain for floating wind – and therefore the location of floating wind jobs – are still to be established.

While the turbine blades and towers are the same as with fixed turbines, the floating substructures, cables and moorings are all different. These come with new manufacturing and processing roles for taking. In the upcoming decades, it is predicted that 20,000 floating sub-structures will be needed globally, offering suppliers a huge potential new market with long-term growth.

Close to 30,000 people could be working in the UK floating wind industry by 2050 and at the centre of this potential sits the current oil and gas workforce. With 90% of employees in the UK oil and gas industry having the skills to transition to offshore wind, there is a skillset ready and waiting. However, the first large floating wind projects globally

will determine the supply chain structure, and the suppliers that win these contracts will create the track record required to win future work.

Close to 30,000 people could be working in the UK floating wind industry by 2050 and at the centre of this potential sits the current oil and gas workforce.

The suppliers and countries that get the first-mover advantage for job creation in this new industry will be determined this year. Several UK pole position projects will soon be ready to enter the construction phase, and seabed area has already been awarded to 24 gigawatts worth of floating wind projects in the region. Although the UK’s potential projects are more mature than those in competing markets, other countries are close behind. The global projects pipeline increased by a third from 2022 to 2023.

Developers play a critical role in supply chain development. Their selection of suppliers will sow the seeds that this burgeoning industry will grow from. Moreover, in floating wind, suppliers need to work more collaboratively within the early project stages than in traditional fixed wind developments. This is due to the higher complexities in design interfaces between different components such as cables, wind turbines, substructures and mooring lines. Developers are the crucial linchpin connecting all these suppliers, working in new, collaborative models to take floating technology to scale.

The huge scope for technology innovation that goes beyond the floating structures themselves – and beyond the construction phase.

From robotic and data-driven inspection technologies to up-tower cranes, remote monitoring, troubleshooting and machine learning, all of these need adapted to maximise the energy producing potential of floating wind

When looking at the management, operations and maintenance of major component replacements, for example, investment in major component hubs at ports needs great consideration, as well as a suitable solution for a capable crane. In addition, technology to manage the majority of these activities in situ will also be extremely important, so that tow-to-port activities become the exception, not the norm.

Garnering investment in new technology, infrastructure, skills and manufacturing with pilot scale projects in any industry is a challenge.

Costs remains high, as the necessary scale of individual projects and volume over time is not yet there. Investment in the supply chain and the learning effects that drive down costs will only come with commercial-scale floating wind developments.

Europe’s first commercial-scale floating wind project will be Green Volt, off the coast of Scotland in the Outer Moray Firth. When complete, it will become of the world’s largest floating wind projects developed under the Crown Estate’s Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing round by developers Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn. The project will electrify oil and gas platforms while delivering renewable energy to the UK grid.

At 560 MW, Green Volt serves as a vital stepping stone for suppliers. It bridges the gap between the small floating installations now operating and the much larger floating projects planned for further down the project pipeline. Green Volt is committed to including local supply chain when it selects suppliers and is adopting a collaborative supply chain model required to advance floating wind technology.

2024 is set to be a pivotal year for this nascent industry. With Green Volt having achieved consent earlier this year, floating wind in the UK is primed and ready to deliver jobs and renewable energy for decades to come - but only if industry and authorities collectively step up this year. Developers have created

execution-ready projects in the UK. Now it is up to a new government and its authorities to ensure the necessary conditions are in place for industry to invest at scale in the pioneering technology.

If the UK fails to be first on floating wind, projects may have to rely on imported components, because the supply chain expertise will have developed elsewhere. While this approach might tick the box for energy security and emission cuts, it would fail to generate the employment needed to retain public buy-in for the energy transition and would leave the UK behind in terms of skills and development. And, once we reach 2030 and beyond, ready to build out full-scale under the ScotWind leasing round, the risk will be competition with other floating wind projects - potentially in the face of limited supply chain capacity - forcing developers to select international suppliers.

Local suppliers must prepare to grasp the opportunities that are uniquely available at this moment in a new industrial history, but can only do this with confidence that a supportive commercial environment is in place. 

DECADES

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FIBRE OPTIC TRAINING

for the onshore, offshore and renewables markets

RCP - Instrumentation and Control System specialists have made significant investment in fibre optic equipment such as fusion splicing machines, mechanical splicing kits, fibre optic ovens, optical power meters, optical microscopes and polishing equipment to terminate and test fibre optic cables, connectors, junction boxes and patch panels to a very high standard.

In 2021 a dedicated fibre optic workshop was set up at our Blackburn facility to provide fibre optic training to the onshore, offshore and renewables markets.

Fibre Optic Training includes

Fusion Splicing of single mode and multimode cables using Fujikura fusion splicers, construction of bespoke fibre optic cables and connector sets, construction of circular plug/socket connectors for hazardous area use. ATEX/IECEx zone 1 connectors, cables made up with pre-potted glands and tails to facilitate ease of fitment to drilling platforms, rigs offshore and renewable assets.

Mechanical splicing – Corning and Huber + Suhner connectors, ST, SC and LC, insertion loss and cable loss measurements, testing connectors and cables for insertion loss and return loss. OTDR testing using Fujikura machines.

The format of the course starts with the theory of Fibre Optics. Safety when using Fibre Optics, FO cable selection and connector types. Stripping fibre optic cables and

preparation including the use of fan out kits, the use of fibre breakout boxes and fibre optic plug socket connectors and an understanding of loss budgets for fibre optics.

Delegates will learn how to manually splice using a Corning Kit with ST, SC and LC connectors. They will learn how to measure insertion loss of splices, connectors and cables. The delegate will use a fibre optic power meter. There will also be an introduction to fusion splicing.

The training course consists of both theoretical and practical elements with approximately 75% of the course being practical exercises where the delegates get to practice the skills taught.

By the end of the course each delegate will be able to identify different types of fibre cable for use on/offshore, select the correct type of cable and connector for the application in hand, prepare and manually splice a connector onto a fibre optic core(mechanical splice), test the integrity of the connector and measure the insertion loss of the cable or cable system.

For

The delegates will be able to fault find and repair fibre optic cables and connectors, prepare and splice a connector onto a fibre optic core known as fusion splicing.

The course material can be created bespoke to a company’s specific requirements. The course runs over 2 days.

A certificate of competence will be issued to the delegate's employing company on successful completion of the course.

RCP provide the following site services on or offshore

Fusion Splicing of single mode and multimode cables – Fujikura fusion splicers, Construction of bespoke fibre optic cables and connector sets, Mechanical splicing – Corning and Huber + Suhner connectors, ST, SC and LC. Construction of bespoke fibre optic cables and connector sets – Insertion loss and cable loss measurement, testing connectors and cables for insertion loss and return loss. 

Editorial newsdesk@ogvenergy.co.uk

+44 (0) 1224 084 114

Advertising office@ogvenergy.co.uk

+44 (0) 1224 084 114

Design

Jen McAdam Cali Gallow Ben Mckay

Journalist Tsvetana Paraskova

CONTRIBUTORS

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions published within editorials and advertisements in this OGV Energy Publication are not those of our editor or company. Whilst we have made every effort to ensure the legitimacy of the content, OGV Energy cannot accept any responsibility for errors and mistakes.

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NORTH STAR SECURES £425M WAR CHEST

North Star has secured further debt investment of up to £425m to accelerate its ambition to become the leading player in Europe’s offshore wind sector and add 40 hybrid SOVs to its fleet by 2040.

The committed financial package of £225m includes term facilities from existing lender, IFM Investors, and committed capex and working capital resources from banks including ABN AMRO (sustainability co-ordinator), AIB, NAB, Royal Bank of Scotland and RBC (sustainability structuring advisor).

The facilities also have accordion capacity allowing a further £200m in funding, enabling the firm the flexibility to upsize as required, removing financial risk and streamlining new business opportunities in the offshore wind sector.

RBC Capital Markets performed the lead advisory role in support of the transaction.

North Star, owned by Partners Group (a leading global private markets firm acting on behalf of its clients), has bases in Aberdeen, Lowestoft, Newcastle, and Hamburg, and operates 41 multi-purpose ships in the North Sea.

In addition, it also has three of four newbuild SOVs in operation at the Dogger Bank Wind Farm with the final asset on schedule for early delivery next year.

The firm has a further four newbuilds underway – an SOV for EnBW's He Dreiht wind farm in Germany, another for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy at the East Anglia THREE project, and its first two larger Commissioning SOVs to further support its offshore wind clients.

Fraser Dobbie, North Star chief financial officer, said: “This £425m strategic investment highlights the attraction of our robust business model and ESG transition journey as we push to become the leading player in Europe’s SOV sector.

"The infusion of capital from a combination of institutional and bank investors secures access to the capital required to support our continued growth, and provides validation from the lender market of the excellent progress we have made on our strategic journey to build our business for sustainable, long-term success in the offshore wind market.

"For potential clients, this committed debt package provides certainty on our ability to deliver vessels as outlined in our tender bids, financially de-risking the process completely.

"This provides us with a competitive edge and a superior ability to turnaround high quality SOV newbuild programmes more rapidly, ensuring the best value and service in the industry."

Its SOV fleet carries several VARD designs to meet clients’ offshore logistics support and operational requirements, including the accommodation of the wind farm technicians remaining and working in field.

As well as providing high quality amenities and comfort, the high-performance hybridelectric ships utilise numerous green technologies and solutions to best support the safe transfer of personnel and cargo to the offshore infrastructure through the motion compensated gangway.

North Star is at the forefront of innovations in the sector creating solutions such as decision support system to support zero carbon objectives, hybrid daughter crafts and logistics handling advances. 

North Star has been operating for 137 years and employs a workforce which includes 1,400 onshore personnel and seafaring crew.

GoldenPeaks Clinches Hungarian Solar Financing

Eastern European renewables investor GoldenPeaks Capital has completed the financing of a portfolio of solar projects with a total capacity of 65MW in Hungary.

The portfolio comprises two solar projects located in north-east Hungary.

Both projects are under construction and will enter into long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Erste Group and Erste Bank Hungary provided the senior financing, while the junior piece was backed by a fund managed by the French asset manager Schelcher Prince Gestion.

Vestas Scoops 6MW Austrian Turbine Order

Vestas has received a 68MW order from ImWind Erneuerbare Energie for a wind power project in Loidesthal, Austria.

The order includes supply, delivery, and commissioning of 10 V162-6.2MW wind turbines and one V150-6.0MW turbine, plus a 25-year service agreement.

The order is an extension of the existing Loidesthal wind project that consists of eight V126-3.45MW turbines.

Turbine delivery is expected to begin in 2025 with commissioning scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2026.

Capcora acted as the exclusive financial advisor to GoldenPeaks on securing the mezzanine financing.

Having established itself as an owner of solar systems in Poland, GoldenPeaks Capital has further expanded into Hungary and secured financing in the market through a unique transaction.

Daniel Tain, President of GoldenPeaks, said: "We're delighted to have secured both senior and junior facilities for our projects in Hungary marking another milestone in our history.

“Concurrently, we're welcoming two new strategic lenders to our network, crucial for

our mission to be a leading independent power producer in the Central Eastern European market. “

Marcus Hinrich Fischer, Executive Director for Corporate Finance Solutions at Erste Group, added: “Partnering with GoldenPeaksCapital, we have worked out a financial structure which gives more time and flexibility than usual to source and negotiate power purchase agreements with off-takers as one of the major commercial pillars of the project.

“Integrating junior debt from SPG into the financing provides for further optimisation of the funding.” 

“This project with our valued client, ImWind Erneuerbare Energie, enables a highly competitive business case,” said Christoph Manseder, Senior Director of Sales for Austria and Switzerland at Vestas.

He added: “We are delighted to contribute to ImWind’s renewable energy goals in Austria and look forward to deepening our collaboration.”

Georg Waldner, CEO of ImWind, said: “For this significant project, we have decided in favour of our long-standing and reliable partner Vestas.

“We are now looking forward towards a successful construction phase and commissioning of our turbines.” 

UK renewable energy review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

uk review

UK HOPES TO ACCELERATE RENEWABLE ENERGY ROLLOUT

As the UK heads for a general election in July, energy policy takes centre stage in the campaign. The share of renewables of UK’s power generation hit a record high in 2023, and industry expects the ongoing allocation round 6 in the flagship Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme to award new renewables capacities that would help Britain reach its renewables and net-zero targets.

Renewables’ Share of Electricity Generation Hits Record High in 2023

Last year, power generation from renewable technologies matched the previous record high of 2022 but renewables’ share of electricity generation increased to a record 47.3 percent. Wind generation hit a record high share of 28.7 percent of generation, up from 2.7 percent back in 2010, the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said in its latest statistics release.

The renewables share was the highest in the reported time series and 10.9 percentage points higher than the share generated by fossil fuels. Electricity generated from wind increased despite lower average wind speeds, helped by additional generation capacity, and

contributed more than a quarter of the UK’s electricity in 2023. Generation by offshore wind reached a record high of 49.5 TWh and provided 17.3 percent of the UK’s electricity.

In solar power, despite lower average daily sun hours throughout 2023, solar generation rose by 4.1 percent to 13.8 TWh, the highest in the time series, reflecting increased solar capacity.

At the same time, power generation from fossil fuels fell to a record low share of 36.3 percent. However, generation from natural gas remained the principal form of UK generation at 34.3 percent.

Low-carbon generation – including renewables and nuclear – increased to a record high share of 61.5 percent last year, the government data showed.

Britain’s flagship renewables scheme has received its biggest ever funding boost from the government, with more than £1 billion for the auction, which opened at the end of March.

Following an extensive review of the latest evidence, including the impact of global events on supply chains, the government has allocated a record £800 million for offshore wind, which has been given a separate funding pot. The funding makes this the largest round yet, with 4 times more budget available to offshore wind than in the previous round.

This follows the increase in the maximum price for offshore wind and floating offshore wind in November 2023 and will ensure Britain remains a global pioneer in wind power, the UK government said.

“We are sticking to the plan to deliver the long-term change our country needs to deliver a brighter future for Britain - securing more homegrown, green energy we can protect billpayers from volatile gas prices,” Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said in March.

UK Allots Largest Ever Budget for CfD Auction Round

UK renewable energy review

The ongoing Allocation Round 6 coincides with the election period. The AR6 is in progress and is expected to conclude at some point during the summer depending on the timeline scenario to which the round runs.

“During the election period, essential business, including routine business necessary to ensure the continued smooth functioning of government and public services, must be allowed to continue,” the government said.

“This can include a CfD allocation round that is already open, although significant decisions and announcements about the round may be subject to the latest Cabinet Office advice on the election period.”

The UK industry looks to further bolster domestic offshore wind capacities and capabilities regardless of the outcome of the election.

UK Offshore Wind Industry Set for New Age of Sustainable Growth

The UK offshore wind industry is gearing up for a new era of accelerated, sustainable growth, which will be driven by a range of new approaches and commitments introduced in 2023, The Crown Estate’s latest UK Offshore Wind Report 2023 showed in May 2024.

UK’s offshore wind is the second largest offshore wind market in the world and represents more than 40 percent of European offshore wind capacity. The UK offshore wind pipeline grew by a further 10 GW in 2023, to 93 GW, and the sector produced 49 TWh of electricity last year, enough to power the equivalent of 50 percent of UK homes, according to The Crown Estate.

Still, it is estimated that 125 GW could be needed by 2050 to meet net zero in the UK.

“Achieving this in an increasingly complex marine environment calls for a more

coordinated approach to seabed management and the delivery of transmission infrastructure, not just to support growth but also to consider the natural environment, other seabed users and to unlock the jobs and prosperity this growth can bring,” The Crown Estate said.

The UK awarded in early May another 31 licenses for North Sea exploration in the final tranche of the 33rd oil and gas licensing round. The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) for the first time introduced a clause for overlapping oil and gas licences and offshore wind farm leases. Some of the licences awarded are in areas previously earmarked for offshore wind power licences.

“Following discussions with our partners in The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland, we have introduced a new clause for overlapping oil and gas licences and wind leases for the first time,” NSTA said.

“This will be the main commercial mechanism for these licences to resolve spatial overlaps and to support co-existence of these important industries.”

Commenting on the new clause for overlapping oil and gas licences and offshore wind farm leases, RenewableUK's Chief Executive Dan McGrail said,

“Whilst we welcome the efforts of the North Sea Transition Authority, The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland to work together on reforming the rules governing oil and gas co-location with offshore wind farms, we need much greater prioritisation of renewables over oil and gas in spatial planning. Offshore wind is going to be the backbone of our future system, not fossil fuels.”

A new report by Aurora Energy Research, commissioned by RenewableUK, showed in early June that offshore wind will be crucial to safeguard consumers and ratepayers from volatility in natural gas prices.

The report identifies additional offshore wind as a key pillar of a decarbonised British power system. Renewables remain the lowest-cost forms of new electricity generation and, compared to gas generation, are less exposed to international price changes, offering greater energy independence, according to the report.

In its analysis, Aurora Energy Research modelled different energy system scenarios that the UK could pursue by 2035. The research showed that options such as relying more heavily on foreign energy imports or generating high amounts of electricity using gas turbines increase the costs of running the system, compared to a high offshore wind system.

The analysis concluded that consumers could save around £68 a year with a Net Zero 2035 electricity system predominantly powered by offshore wind versus a Net Zero system with no further CFD-backed offshore wind development.

“A power system with a substantial amount of offshore wind can provide a buffer against global gas price volatility"

“A power system with a substantial amount of offshore wind can provide a buffer against global gas price volatility,” said Malavika Gode, Senior Associate, UK & Ireland Advisory, at Aurora Energy Research.

Salman Khan, Principal, Advisory, at Aurora Energy Research, added:

“The study also found that the government support for offshore wind is important for its development in the long term and the consequential increase in consumer/ system costs is comparatively low as compared to investing in other alternative low carbon technologies.”

As energy policy emerges as a key issue in the general election campaign, RenewableUK published at the beginning of June new polling which showed overwhelming public support for a cross-party consensus on maximising investment in renewable energy projects to reduce consumer bills and boost Britain’s energy security.

Polling by Opinium of 10,021 people in the UK in April, commissioned by RenewableUK, showed that 79 percent of voters want political parties to work together to create a consensus on maximising investment in clean power. This overwhelming support exists in the current voters of all political parties, with 81 percent of Conservatives, 86 percent of Labour, 89 percent of Lib Dem, 82 percent of SNP, and 69 percent of Reform voters in support. 

By Tsvetana Paraskova

EUROPEan review

EUROPE NEEDS CRUCIAL POLICY SUPPORT TO REACH NET ZERO

Europe has made huge progress in greening its power generation in recent years. Soaring wind and solar electricity output has been displacing fossil fuels, whose share in electricity output has dropped to an all-time low.

Despite the acceleration of renewables and the EU’s efforts to create a domestic supply chain for clean energy manufacturing, Europe still needs additional crucial policy support to be able to compete with the United States and China for supply chain manufacturing and ramp up solar and wind power installations to meet its 2050 net-zero targets.

Renewables Push EU Fossil Fuel Power to All-Time Low

Earlier this year, the EU hit a major milestone in its electricity transition. For the first time ever, fossil fuels generated less than a quarter of the EU’s electricity in a single month, in April 2024, per data from think tank Ember.

During that month, the EU’s electricity generation from fossil fuels fell to a record low level of 23 percent. Despite the rise in power demand in the bloc, fossil generation fell sharply compared to April 2023.

As a result, power sector emissions declined by 22 percent year-over-year.

While the share of fossil fuels shrank to a record low, wind and solar growth and a recovery in hydropower generation contributed to the largest ever renewables share of 54 percent. Wind and solar reached a record high in April 2024, generating more than a third of EU electricity for the first time, according to Ember’s estimates.

Power generation from fossil fuels in April 2024 was down by 24 percent compared to April 2023, and as a result, EU fossil generation reached its lowest monthly level, at 46 TWh.

Both coal and natural gas generation fell sharply. Coal generation slumped by 30 percent and accounted for 8.6 percent of the EU’s electricity mix in April 2024, its lowest share ever. Natural gas-powered output dropped by 22% on the year and made up 12.1 percent of the EU’s electricity mix in April 2024, its lowest share in at least eight years, Ember noted.

In a more recent analysis in June, Ember said that wind and solar power have displaced a fifth of the EU’s fossil generation over the past five years.

Since 2019, EU wind and solar capacity has jumped by 65 percent, with wind capacity up by 31 percent to reach 219 gigawatts (GW) in 2023. Solar capacity has surged even faster, more than doubling from 120 GW to 257 GW.

This new wind and solar capacity resulted in a 46-percent combined increase in generation from 2019 to 2023 and propelled the wind and solar share in the EU electricity mix from 17 percent in 2019 to over a quarter in 2023—at 27 percent. This was the main driver behind the increase of the share of total renewables from 34 percent in 2019 to 44 percent in 2023, Ember says.

At the same time, fossil fuel generation decreased by 22 percent between 2019 and 2023, with sharp drops in both coal and gas generation. Coal generation fell by a quarter, despite a temporary uptick in 2021 in the energy crisis and the temporary postponement of some coal power plant closures. Gas generation fell for four consecutive years, ending 2023 at its lowest level since 2015, at 21 percent below its 2019 levels, according to Ember’s data.

The rise of renewables was evident in all EU member states during the period—more than half of the 27 Member States have at least doubled, and in many cases more than tripled, their wind and solar capacity from 2019 to 2023, the think tank said.

“Ambitious, world-leading climate policies, combined with targeted measures to get off Russian gas, have solidified into real and sustained momentum,” Sarah Brown, Europe Programme Director at Ember, commented.

“The EU is now in the midst of a historic, permanent shift away from reliance on fossil fuels for power.”

EU National Plans Fall Short of REPowerEU Goals

Despite the progress in clean energy generation, the EU is currently off track on its ambitious renewables targets. The draft National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of the EU member states are just short of what’s needed for the EU’s energy targets. A further push is needed to close the remaining gap and accelerate deployment, Ember’s analysts Chris Rosslowe and Tom Harrison wrote in an analysis in May.

Renewable electricity is set to dominate the EU power sector by 2030. Ember has estimated that renewables are on course to generate 66 percent of EU electricity by 2030. This is a rapid and significant increase compared to 2023 levels, when renewables generated 44 percent of EU electricity, but falls short of the REPowerEU target of 72 percent.

“While significant progress has been made in raising ambition since 2019, more ambitious targets are needed to put the EU on track for a predominantly decarbonised power system in the mid 2030s, as required by global climate commitments,” Ember’s analysts commented.

EU Trails US and China in Clean Technology

Currently, the EU’s 2030 net-zero targets are out of reach as clean tech investments fall

euaropean renewable energy review

behind the US and China, Rystad Energy said in a report in early June.

According to Rystad Energy research and modelling, the European Union is set to fall far behind its ambitious energy transition targets for renewable energy, clean technology capacity, and domestic supply chain investments.

The US, with the incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as well as China, are beating the EU to attract investment in clean energy technologies. The EU, despite the NetZero Industry Act (NZIA) passed earlier this year, is seeing a contrasting story of ambition versus reality in cleantech investment, and another dose of reality could be coming soon, the independent research and energy intelligence company said.

“The next few years are critical, and hesitancy or a lack of cohesion could see the bloc lagging its counterparts for decades to come. As things stand, the EU is losing ground and is highly unlikely to reach its lofty goals,” said Lars Nitter Havro, Senior Energy Systems Analyst at Rystad Energy.

While the EU’s NZIA sets forth ambitious targets and provisions to accelerate the deployment of key clean technologies, including batteries, CCUS, and hydrogen electrolyzers, some European solar manufacturers and battery manufacturing companies are favouring “the greener pastures across the pond, emphasizing the need for competitive developer conditions,” Rystad Energy said.

“A power system with a substantial amount of offshore wind can provide a buffer against global gas price volatility"

The success of the EU’s efforts to have a strong domestic supply chain in clean energy technologies and reach its solar and wind capacity installation targets will depend on continued political and financial support for renewables. These technologies tend to be vulnerable to political shifts and the reliability and availability of adequate manufacturing capacity, according to the research firm.

“The EU has lost much of its manufacturing base to Chinese and US competition, and establishing a resilient supply chain in Europe is proving challenging,” Rystad Energy said.

“Key industry players are departing the bloc and relocating to regions with more attractive incentive structures, such as the US, and the EU simply cannot compete,” it noted.

“The migration of these companies not only erodes the EU's manufacturing capacity but also increases its reliance on non-European sources for essential components, making it dependent on other nations to secure its targets.”

renewable projects

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renewable PROJECTS

Offshore Wind Farm

Nordseecluster A GERMANY

RWE Renewables

$3.19 bn

Development of a 660 MW offshore wind farm 40 km north of the island of Juist in the German North Sea. The wind farm will feature 44 x 15 MW turbines and form a part of the larger 1.6 GW Nordseecluster complex. The complex has secured a financial investment decision and has chosen Van Oord to transport and install the turbines’ monopile foundations. 1

Floating Offshore Wind Farm Erik Segersall SWEDEN

Deep Wind Offshore

$8.5 bn

Construction of an up to 4.5 GW floating offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea, 30 km from Gotska Sandön and 74 km east of Nynäshamn. The site will comprise of 240-300 wind turbines with maximum total heights of 370 m and unit capacities of 20-25 MW. A planning application has been submitted to the Government, making it the first application for a floating farm in the country.

3

Offshore Wind Farm Caruara I BRAZIL

EDF Renewables

$5.8 bn

A proposed 2.31 GW fixed-bottom offshore wind farm located in Rio de Janeiro, off the coast of São João da Barra. The project is expected to feature 110 wind turbines with 21 MW capacity each. The wind farm is currently with Ibama, where an open environmental licensing process is ongoing.

Floating Offshore Wind Farm

SALAMANDER SCOTLAND

Ørsted, Simply Blue Group, Subsea 7

$500 m

Proposed development of an up to 100MW floating wind project, 35 km off the coast of Peterhead. The site lease was granted under the innovation arm of the Crown Estate’s INTOG (Innovation and Targeted Oil & Gas) auction process. An offshore consent application has been submitted to Scottish ministers and the onshore application is to be filed later in the year.

Offshore Wind Farm

Aurora Green AUSTRALIA

Iberdrola

$5 bn

Construction of a 3 GW offshore wind farm to be located 25 km from the Gippsland coastline, Victoria. Iberdrola has received preliminary approval to construct the proposal, which will be Iberdrola’s first offshore wind farm in the country.

6

Floating Offshore Wind Farm Firefly SOUTH KOREA

Equinor

$2.5 bn

Development of an up to 750 MW floating offshore wind farm in the East Sea off the coast of Ulsan. The project will be located in water depths of 200-250 metres with semi-submersible foundations. DNV has been chosen to provide verification services for the FEED of the wind farm's offshore substation.

7

Offshore Wind Farm Atlantic Shores 1 USA

EDF Renewables & Shell

$4.5 bn

A 1.5 GW offshore wind project off the coast of New Jersey, located approximately 16-32 km away from the coast. The project is associated with the lease area OCS-A 0499, which covers an area of 750 km2. BOEM has released the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the development.

8

Nage Geothermal Power Project INDONESIA

Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE)

$230 m

The Nage geothermal working area is located at Jerebuu District, Ngada Regency in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province. The area is estimated to contain geothermal resources of 46 MW. The contract tender for the area’s auction has been reissued and a bid bond guarantee has also been set to one billion rupiah (around US$61,500).

10

9 Kambarata 1 Hydro Power Plant KYRGYZSTAN

5 Morlais Magallanes Floating Tidal Device WALES

Magallanes Renovables

$20 m

Development of an 8.62 MW tidal device to be built on the Morlais test zone as one of the first in Anglesey, North Wales. The project has been successful in the UK’s CfD Round 5 allocation. Tadek Ocean Engineering will support the proposal with detailed design involving cables, installation and mooring systems.

Kyrgyzstan Power Plants (KPP)

$4.5 bn

Construction of a 1,860 MW hydro power plant, located upstream of the Toktogul reservoir, in Kyrgyzstan. The World Bank is to provide an additional funding of $13.6 million as part of the technical support for the project.

Tunisia - Italy Electrical Interconnection Project TUNISIA & ITALY

Elmed Études Sàrl

$934 m

An interconnection project between energy networks of Tunisia and Italy. The project involves the implementation of an electrical interconnection of 600 MW through an underwater line of 192 km length, a 500 kV transmission line with 192 km of subsea cables, 32 km onshore in Sicily and 5 km of underground cable in Tunisia. The Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security has given the green light for its construction.

12 Bhutan Hydropower Project BHUTAN

Druk Green Power Corporation

$110 m

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has pledged to provide financing totalling USD 160.2 million to the government of Bhutan. This funding aims to support the construction of solar and hydropower plants. The loan will finance the development of 310 MW of small to mid-size run-ofriver hydropower and solar photovoltaic projects. These developments are set to be implemented by Druk Green Power Corp.

by Dan Hyland – Operations and Sales Director at OGV Energy

Callum Maxwell, Business Development manager, RENEWABLES, proserv

Q. If you can give us a little bit of background on your own personal journey into offshore wind first, that would be great.

I think even when I was in school, I was interested in geography and sustainable development and that took me on a little bit of a path initially through applied chemistry at Strathclyde University. But I think my goal, my ambition was always to move into the renewables industry as it was kind of slowly developing around that time. So, I completed a master's degree in sustainable energy at Glasgow University.

Q. Time frame wise, Callum, when was that?

So that was about ten years ago now, I can't actually believe how long ago that was! Then I was working for a while at Glasgow City Council as a business analyst there, and then moved into ship management and worked for a commercial ship company, V.Ships. But the goal was always quite clear in my head that I was just slowly plotting a path towards a technical or business development type role within the offshore renewable market or offshore wind.

And after spending a little bit of time in Australia, I had the opportunity to then join the UK's leading research and technology organisation, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC), initially as a funding proposal specialist. It gave me a lot of opportunity to work across the supply chain.

I would probably describe myself as a little bit of a geek as well, so I like digital innovations. So then the next step into Proserv came quite organically from a collaboration project between OREC, Proserv and Proserv’s partners Synaptec and BPP Cable Solutions as they started down the development route for what has become the product and service into the market.

Q. So you were actually helping organisations at ORE Catapult to develop technology effectively for the renewable sector?

I would say I was the middleman with a really tremendous team of engineers working within the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. So, my role essentially at that time

was to identify funding opportunities, or collaboration opportunities, and try and link the right companies, as in, what technologies fit those briefs and where can we hope for the biggest growth with some of these organisations. So that was a tremendous time just to learn about all that kind of leading-edge development within the UK supply chain.

Q. That was quite a challenging role, because presumably everybody was looking at this going “this is a fantastic opportunity for us to make money, we've got an idea”. So you really had to separate the wheat from the chaff and decide what could be commercialised effectively?

Yes, not quite so cut-throat perhaps as that! But no matter where an organisation is in that, let’s say, technology readiness level, there is a route for them within ORE Catapult. So whether it just starts off as that conceptual great idea - how do I take it to the next level – or whether it's an organisation like Proserv, who have so much experience in the oil and gas industry and say “how can we take the skills and experience that we have, and the people that we have globally, to build and pivot into the renewables sector to enable that sustainable growth within the organisation itself?”

So, yeah, if there's a great idea out there and there's willingness from the company to move forward in the offshore wind sector, then the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is a great door to chap on.

Q. So then obviously Proserv approached you presumably, to come in. So if you just talk through how you took that role with Proserv and how they sold it to you and did it work out?

We’ll start with the last question. Yeah, it's absolutely working out, I love working at Proserv and the opportunity that it's given us. But to take it back to the start, I suppose you could say a bit of luck and an opportunity in that Proserv had reached out to say “we have an idea” and had been engaging with Synaptec at that time.

I hosted a meeting in the Glasgow office for Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult to talk through what, at that stage, we were defining

as the smart cable project. So, we bid for an Innovate UK Smart Grant and fortunately we were eventually successful in achieving that. Then my role at that time was, once it's moved into an active project, I'm on to the next company to try and support through that process. So, the ECG™ development project was very much alive and kicking in the background, and as it came to the end of that, I got very kindly approached by Proserv as I understood the technology, understood what they were trying to do and believed in it, and it felt like the right move at the right time for me. So, I suppose in some ways Proserv sold it to me, but I think I'd probably already sold it to myself!

Q. Your CEO, Davis Larssen kind of captained that pivot and diversification into the renewables space. So, prior to that, Proserv was largely oil and gas based, one of the leaders in subsea control systems. I presume you were probably one of the first people to come on board and help pioneer that diversification.

Yeah that makes me sound very special but I will happily take it! So I think organisationally, Paul Cook, who is my direct manager, the VP of Renewables, he'd been essentially tasked with a blank sheet of paper. We understood the skills and capability that we had within the organisation. So, it was how can we bring that subsea controls experience and that technical skill that we have, in developing control systems, and general systems, that will operate in hostile environments, and take that blank sheet of paper and say, “what is the problem that we can use these skills to try and solve in offshore wind?”

And then from that, a couple of other members of the team: Laura Carrigan, who at that stage was a graduate engineer, and Lee Davison who had been with Proserv for a long time and is now the Product Manager for the renewables as well. We are a relatively tight core team, but we can dip into that great resource and experience that we have from the oil and gas side of the business.

So perhaps I was the first what we call a purist that was in-house. But in general, there's a great core of capability that we have to enable our transition into offshore wind.

Q. On the purist side of things, it certainly was a thing once upon a time, because the renewable crowd were a little bit reticent to let the oil and gas guys come in with a lot of that technology. I think that that's kind of changed now in terms of everybody working towards the same goal, would you say that was fair?

I think that's absolutely a fair comment. I think there's kind of two elements, there's the supply chain part, which obviously Proserv is very much involved with. And then there's the development side as well. So the developers, where we've seen a lot of movement from, what we would have previously classed as kind of the oil majors, again, trying to transition and carry out that sustainable growth. And I think, initially there was a little bit of pushback, but ultimately everyone, or the goal in general, is sustainable growth, not just for the organisations but longer term for the country that we live in, for the world that we live in. So, I think that movement and that technical expertise can only be a good thing. And in the long term, I guess, time will tell if that's the case.

Q. So if we look at the technology itself, ECG™, which sounds like a heart monitoring technology - you're clearly keeping your finger on the pulse of your clients to make sure that their equipment is safe. Can you elaborate a little bit on that or how it works and the benefits to your clients?

Absolutely. We are a data focused organisation. And the challenge that I think offshore wind has a lot of the time is, “are we collecting the right data from the right places?” So when we look at some of the statistics, cable failures are very expensive when they take place, and insurance companies tend to take the brunt of that. I think the latest figures that I've seen are still up around 80% of the total value of claims within the offshore wind industry come from cable failures themselves.

So it becomes a really interesting element of why is that happening? Is it something that we're not seeing? And ECG™ very simply is trying to give insight, totally passively, using infrastructure that's already within the cables, i.e. the fibre optics within them, to try and understand within the cable section mechanically, thermally, how is it performing? How do we expect it to perform? How is it changing over 25 years of operational life?

Where Proserv is trying to push it is with our relationship with Synaptec who’ve developed a great technology, distributed electrical sensing (DES), which, to put it very, very simply, allows us to take a multimeter to some of the key connections within the cable infrastructure, which are the terminations themselves. We could also do it in the joints as well.

But what makes it interesting is once we've got the system installed and connected to the fibre optic network, then those sensors

will sit and they will monitor the current, the temperature, the voltage. We can also look at some of the mechanical properties in that offshore environment, as there's going to be a lot of fluctuations. Where the market has been for the last few years is, not a huge amount of monitoring being carried out at all on inter-array cables where there can be a lot of failures. On the export cables, the insurance company require simply a DTS system, which is purely focused on distributed temperature sensing, as the name implies, on what is the temperature and how can we infer what the conductor temperature is within that, which is a start.

However, that's only one thermal bottleneck you're going to be looking at. The other, which potentially has more risk of failure and statistically certainly is more likely to fail, are the terminations themselves, because ultimately these have to be jointed manually. And if there's any imperfection within that, over time electricity, like water, will find another path. And when that happens, it can be pretty explosive. 

www.ogv.energy/play

THREE60 Energy: Integrating Expertise Across the Energy Transition

Since its inception in 2016, THREE60 Energy has been on a journey of growth both organically and through strategic acquisitions.

This has driven the business to add to its technical capabilities supporting both industrial diversification and expanding its geographical footprint thus, entering new markets to support overseas customers with in-country presence.

In its inception, THREE60 was a full-service oil and gas asset life cycle business however, in recent years there has been an increased focus on the Energy Transition, looking at ways to adopt new technologies to decarbonise traditional practises, supporting not only their own, but their customers journeys to net zero. Increasing their foothold in the renewables market is one of six key strategic priorities for THREE60, in addition to continued and sustainable growth, developing people and entering the digital transformation space.

In digital, THREE60 is exploring new ways to translate data into meaningful information using bespoke digital dashboards specific to each customers requirements and to the activity at hand, whether that be for subsurface geotechnical surveys or drilling and wells activities. The adoption

Author Scott Roy Strategic Development Director, THREE60 Energy

of this technology significantly reduces the amount of time spent on manually parsing data, allowing customers to dedicate that time elsewhere.

Scott Roy, Strategic Development Director at THREE60, is focussed on developing a cohesive renewables strategy, combining expertise from across the business. Here he shares insight into THREE60’s journey so far, their next chapter and their role in a just energy transition.

“Energy companies now more than ever are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, with the UK Government aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 77% by 2035, it is up to those of us operating in the energy industry to redefine working practices and innovate to adopt new technologies to decarbonise our industry.

“Over the past three years, we as a leadership team have looked at different ways to accelerate our move into the renewables market. Having been involved in the initial phase of windfarm development with our operations geoscience expertise from our Subsurface business in SEAsia since 2018, we have simultaneously been advancing our offering through strategic acquisitions to add knowledge, expertise and technologies into our service and product portfolio, whilst also working with industry experts to decarbonise our existing operations.

“We know that we are uniquely placed to impact multiple areas of the oil and gas production process as one of only a few full service asset lifecycle solutions companies operating globally. We have the ability to work with customers across all of our service lines (subsurface, wells, subsea, EPCC, operations and product solutions) and geographies to look at ways to change standard practises.

“An area of early interest to us was exploring ways to utilise abandoned oil wells for carbon capture and storage (CCS), we know from research that CCS could account for a significant proportion of the global emissions reductions needed by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Using the capabilities present within our group combined with the expertise of our partners, we successfully developed a method for doing just that and have now successfully delivered a comprehensive set of solutions for several

customers. Our scopes spanned reservoir storage volume estimates with probabilistic sensitivity analysis to abandonment risk assessments, pipeline running fracture risk reviews, and suitability assessments.

“Whilst our focus has always been to continue to support our customers and the industry in the best way that we can, we have always recognised that it is almost impossible to have a renewables strategy without having a presence in the wind industry. In the past 12 months, 37.9% of the UK’s energy was provided by renewable energy sources, with wind accounting for 31.8% of that. In 2021, we acquired an electrical engineering company in Orkney to add onshore wind turbine operations and maintenance, high voltage switching, grid connection support and electrical engineering solutions to our service portfolio. Most notably, our team in Orkney have been working with our long-term client, EMEC to support the development of the marine energy sector by providing essential electrical services at their wave and tidal energy test sites which will ultimately contribute to Europe’s renewable energy targets and help mitigate climate change.

“We are working with one of our digital partners on a demonstrator project across multiple onshore windfarms under our operation to optimise turbine uptime and maintenance activities. We are also working on wind turbine repowering scopes, which involves replacing older units with new,

higher capacity turbines or retrofitting them with more efficient components – in both cases, this significantly increases wind farm production and extends wind farm life.

“The natural progression for our business was to move into the offshore wind sector. With the acquisition of Pryme Group at the end of 2023, we acquired proprietary technologies in fixed bottom foundation stabilisation tooling, PileProp and Pile Fixation Tool (PFT) and in-house engineering capabilities that include subsea expertise in dynamic cable and mooring analysis. PFT and PileProp are designed to support the installation of monopile and jacketed foundations for offshore wind, by providing a localised, rigid deflection constraint – and in the case of the PileProp system independent of vessel interaction or station – prior to the critical grouting process of securing the foundations. This technology has been deployed on 62 turbines on a European offshore wind farm which completed commissioning in 2024.

“PFT is a bespoke monopile foundation installation support solution, designed to address the stabilising issues involved with monopile foundations being placed in predrilled boreholes, due to challenging seabed conditions. This proven technology has been used to support DEME with the foundation installation of 80 turbines on the St Nazaire offshore wind farm for EDF Renewables.

“We have applied our deep understanding of flexible riser solutions in oil and gas to

the offshore renewables sector to provide design, analysis and integrity management services for offshore wind power cables. This technology could prove vital with the emergence of green hydrogen where there will be a requirement to transport hydrogen to seabed level and then back onshore, this technology could be applied to both fixed bottom offshore wind turbines and floating wind.

“My focus over the next 12 months and beyond is to bring all of these services and products into a single renewables offering, to go and speak to our customers and industry stakeholders to showcase our combined industry offering. We know that there is still a long way to go but we believe that by speaking with our customers at the early stages of a project, before the final investment decision has been made, we can significantly and positively impact projects with our novel approach to decarbonisation.

“With increasing socioeconomic and political attention to the energy transition, we continue to seek to be a part of the conversation, taking part in industry messaging workshops and steering groups to put forward new ideas and understand the issues facing our industry. We will continue to innovate, adapt and adopt new technologies and play our part in contributing to a just energy transition and we look forward to taking our partners, customers and employees on that journey with us”. 

THE FUTURE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn are leading the way in the development of offshore wind projects. Determined to support the global movement to Net Zero and sustainable energy consumption, our core strengths lie in finding and developing sites for floating projects in deeper waters globally. Together we have harnessed our expertise to deliver reliable oil and gas electrification and decarbonisation projects that will pioneer the future of renewable energy.

FIRST MARINE SOLUTIONS ENTERS JAPANESE FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND MARKET WITH BUSINESS COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

A landmark Business Collaboration Agreement has been agreed between global mooring solutions expert, First Marine Solutions and Horizon Ocean Management, Ltd.

(HOM) - a subsidiary joint venture between Japanese industrial giant, Mitsui and the country’s leading turbine maintenance company, Hokutaku.

The Agreement will see the development of mooring strategy-related services for the floating offshore wind power sector in Japan, providing consultancy services (installation and O&M phase), mooring installation support, and O&M services (monitoring, inspection, and repair).

FMS’ experience in the offshore wind field has included key roles in several renewable energy projects for major developers,

as well as participation in landmark projects for ORE Catapult, the UK's leading innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy.

HOM has already established a unique position within the supply chain of offshore wind industry in Japan. Together with FMS’ position as the energy industry’s pre-eminent mooring service provider, the collaboration delivers a powerful world-class proposition to provide an integrated mooring service including design and engineering, optimisation of windfarm layout, building installation, inspection and repair strategy, and mooring procedures.

Mr. Takagi, President of HOM, commented: “We believe that floating wind will become a popular choice in Japan in the near future, with full-scale development of floating offshore wind power generation expected. In the meantime, in addition to the development of supply chains, it will be essential to acquire engineering capabilities for offshore and subsea applications. The alliance with First Marine Solutions, which already provides mooring services for floating structures across the offshore energy sector, including floating offshore wind, is indispensable in providing the capabilities demanded by the Japanese offshore wind industry. We have been in discussions with First Marine Solutions since last year and are very pleased to be working with them in Japan. We believe this alliance will help to quickly establish mooring installation and O&M capabilities to the Japanese floating offshore wind sector.”

Steven Brown, Managing Director of First Marine Solutions, commented: “We are delighted to be working with HOM and the eminent companies that it comprises. FMS has developed a strong track record in the floating offshore wind market since the inception of our dedicated renewables consultancy in 2020; this combined with our decades’ of experience in the design, supply and installation of mooring systems in the oil and gas industry makes our offering truly unique.

“The logical next step for us was to expand into new territories and we quickly identified Japan as a key market. HOM is the perfect partner for us, given the compelling combination of Mitsui and Hokutaku. The addition of our mooring design and installation services naturally complements the market leading O&M services they already supply and we are truly excited to help develop the floating offshore wind sector in Japan.” 

Picture caption: Steven Brown, Managing Director, First Marine Solutions

WIND ENERGY SPONSORED BY

£86M INVESTMENT IN OFFSHORE WIND RESEARCH FACILITIES TO ACCELERATE UK DEVELOPMENT OF NEXT GENERATION OF SUPER TURBINES

Development of the world’s most advanced wind turbine blade and drive train testing assets at ORE Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, Northumberland, set to deliver major boost to UK growth from offshore wind.

Ambitious plans to keep the UK at the forefront of technology development in offshore wind have been given the green light today, with the announcement that UKRI will provide £85.6m of capital funding for the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult to expand and upgrade its testing facilities and enable the evolution of the next generation of wind turbines in the UK.

The late-stage research and development facilities, designed for the testing of blades up to 150m and drive trains up to 23MW, combined with ORE Catapult’s extensive expertise in test and demonstration, will ensure that turbine manufacturers can accelerate their technology development in the UK with reduced risk and enhanced reliability for a new wave of larger, more efficient machines. Both blade and drive train capabilities will have the capacity for further expansion, to 180m and 28MW respectively, to meet future industry demand.

The new facilities will enable faster product development of turbines through test, validation and certification and are expected to prevent 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by accelerating deployment by a minimum of eight-months – meaning more of the energy keeping our lights on and heating our homes is from an eco-friendly source. They will also support the growth of UK supply chains, and provide critical research infrastructure to

support inward investment into the UK wind industry. They will also create 30 new jobs in Blyth and support 5 PhDs a year.

Science, Innovation and Research Minister, Andrew Griffith, said: “Putting pioneering innovation at the heart of the UK’s transition to net zero is the key to protecting our environment in a way which continues to lift living standards.

“Our £86m funding will create highly skilled and highly paid new jobs that grow the northeast and wider UK economies while pulling investment in by marking our country as a leader on technologies of the future and unashamedly open for business.

“At the same time, it strengthens the UK’s energy security in an uncertain world and helps us pivot towards the cleaner energy that can preserve our planet for generations to come.”

Dr Adam Staines, UKRI Infrastructure Portfolio Director, said: “UKRI continues to make the vital infrastructure investments that will underpin innovation and research throughout the UK for the coming decades. The project in Blyth demonstrates that investment in the right infrastructure can reduce CO2, support greater energy independence and drive economic benefits that build world-class places to live and work, as well. Working across UKRI with Innovate UK’s Catapult

Network and the wider supply chain will help achieve these crucial objectives.”

Andrew Jamieson, ORE Catapult Chief Executive, said: “This investment in truly world-leading capability will keep the UK at the forefront of offshore wind technology development. It will enable ORE Catapult to continue to deliver the most advanced research and development infrastructure and expertise to the offshore wind industry, capturing the jobs and economic growth from the transition to a Net Zero economy”.

Richard Sandford, Co-Chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council, said: “I’m delighted that ORE Catapult has deservedly secured this significant level of investment from UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund which will help to maintain Britain’s leading position in offshore wind. It will enable ORE Catapult to continue to develop state-of-the-art turbine technology, building on its excellent track record of leadership in innovation. The blades and drive trains which will be tested by world-class experts in Blyth are expected to make UK offshore wind projects even more cost-competitive, and see supply chain companies exporting this technology overseas, adding value to the UK’s economy and helping to accelerate the pace of global decarbonisation”.

Dan McGrail, RenewableUK CEO, said: “Investing in ground-breaking research to develop the next generation of turbines is vital if this country is to retain its position as a global trailblazer in innovative offshore wind technology in the face of strong international competition. Last month we launched an Industrial Growth Plan for offshore wind which shows how proactively focussing on high-value components such as blades will boost the UK’s economy by £25 billion and support an extra 10,000 jobs over the next ten years. We have an excellent opportunity to build up new offshore wind supply chains, and the cutting-edge work being done by our colleagues at ORE Catapult will help us to achieve this”.

Designs are well advanced with a view to commencing construction in the near future at the Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth of the new blade testing facility, alongside the existing 100m blade test hall, and the major upgrade to its 15MW drive train test facility, with both expected to be fully commissioned by 2028.

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Flare’s award winning services support the UK Energy Transition.

Focused on delivering outstanding customer service and unrivalled technical expertise, Flare continue to expand into evolving global markets and have established a recognised track record in the Offshore Wind sector.

When the UK announced its’ ambitious Net Zero target by 2050, Flare proactively reviewed their commercial portfolio and identified key service, hire and product deliverables that would support the UK’s energy transition strategy and directly migrate their current offerings to the Renewables Industry. With wind farms rapidly developing across the nation and worldwide, Flare have emphasized the importance of providing job security to their workforce with diversification initiatives, reinvestment and involvement in the local communities to help empower the future of clean energy. Flare continuously review their business infrastructures to explore new and innovative practices demonstrating commercial conviction, agility and ambition. They now offer a variety of sustainable project packages with reduced man hours, remote service optimisation and digitisation to help support the growth of this vital sector.

“As members of the OEUK, we agree it is critical to prioritise a homegrown energy transition in the UK first. This will help provide a boost to local businesses and communities across the region as well as support opportunities to upskill our teams and foster transitional talent wherever possible to safeguard careers in the industry. With Offshore Wind, Carbon Capture & Storage and Decarbonisation projects well underway, organisations must continue to collaborate to unlock key

opportunities and resources with added backing and support from the government and stakeholders in the UK offshore sector to facilitate data-sharing and breakdown existing barriers to market.”

Flare have successfully partnered with industry leading Wind Farm operators and with safety at the forefront of everything they do, they hope to inspire like-minded businesses to look at ways they can transition into clean energy and optimise their own service offerings to support this shared objective.

“Our core service & maintenance projects not only support 360 degrees of safety onboard Windfarm substations but also the safety of marine & sea-going vessels that are critical to the supply, transport and maintenance of optimal operational capacity for wind farms.”

Flare provide an extensive range of specialist services to this sector ranging from DIFFS/FIFI testing, Inergen & Argonite system testing, Helideck foam system testing and verification, fire detection system testing and lifesaving equipment inspections and recertification with preventative maintenance & design packages tailored to meet specific requirements.

“We are looking to the UK leaders to help provide inroads for supply chain companies like Flare, who are eager and ready to support a safe and realistic energy transition.” 

HYDROGEN & CCS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

www.netzerotc.com

TURNING TALK INTO TERAWATTS: ELEVATING THE ELECTROLYSER

World leaders have put their bets on green hydrogen, but in order to scale the global market, improvements in electrolyser technologies will be critical.

Here, Harriet Fox-Bekerman, Senior Project Engineer, at the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) considers the opportunities around clean hydrogen growth and the innovation required to turn reverie into reality.

The hype

Political leaders around the world under pressure to decarbonise their energy sources have published ambitious green hydrogen plans to help their nations meet looming netzero targets.

At the start of this year, the UK government announced a £21million boost to accelerate key low carbon hydrogen projects across Aberdeen, Tees Valley and Suffolk. This followed a further government pledge of over £2billion for several other green hydrogen production projects.

In the global race for clean and green, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) declared a $750million allocation to significantly reduce the cost of clean hydrogen. This commitment was made to support the advancement of electrolysis technologies that make green hydrogen production possible.

Whilst Green hydrogen, touted as the 'new oil’, is rarely out of the media, turning talk into terawatt hours requires the scaling of existing and new projects. To make this possible, electrolyser technologies need to be more efficient and costeffective. Without a coordinated effort to do this, is hydrogen all hype?

The hurdles

The challenges of scaling commercially available electrolyser technologies such as PEM and AELgo beyond economics, although inflation, rising energy costs and political

uncertainty haven’t helped matters. Global supply chain delays, a reliance on rare and expensive elements, and manufacturing inefficiencies also create hurdles when it comes to scaling.

The proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser for example, relies on platinum and palladium, as well as the extremely rare metal iridium. There is a concern that the production of these electrolysers could become compromised if the supply of these essential minerals is disrupted. A significant spike in demand for these precious metals would drive up their market price.

Another challenge is that electrolyser manufacturers must continue expanding

production capacity to allow gigawattscale orders to be met, however if capacity outstrips demand, manufacturers face losing money. As a result, we risk manufacturers putting the brakes on electrolyser production which could lead to a shortage of these essential technologies when projects commence, jeopardising the long-term growth of the global green hydrogen market.

You could say it is a chicken or egg situation whereby manufacturers need the assurance that there is a market for their product, but without the product the projects stall. This emphasises the need for governments around the world to not only pledge funding, but to accelerate their current projects and action further clean hydrogen commitments.

You could say it is a chicken or egg situation whereby manufacturers need the assurance that there is a market for their product, but without the product the projects stall

The heroes

Many of the nations that have ambitious green hydrogen strategies in place simply have a pipe dream without a scalable version of this technology, and immediate, prioritised innovation is critical.

Given the complexities and uncertainties around how green hydrogen production will be integrated into future energy systems, it is unlikely that we will see one single technology emerge as a clear market winner. Instead, it will be a balancing act of making each as efficient and cost-effective as possible for different use cases.

Bringing down the cost of current models, which includes lowering the reliance on expensive and rare elements that often have to be shipped from overseas and face long delays, will require newer innovations that introduce new approaches to scaling green hydrogen production.

For example, we can expect the use of a modularised electrolyser to rise. This design allows for an integrated process water treatment and an electrical power supply, and therefore offers a plug-and-play solution for scale, removing the need for the purchase and shipping of costly materials from overseas. This innovation could drastically disrupt the market, increase efficiencies and reduce maintenance costs.

The unsung heroes are the developers advancing these innovations. For example, at NZTC we support a range of developers who are focused on green hydrogen production through electrolyser technologies.

This includes Supercritical, a London-based start-up developing the world’s first high

pressure electrolyser. Unlike conventional water electrolysers, this approach can produce hydrogen at pressure without gas compression, reducing capital expenditures. The solution is thought to be 30% more efficient than rival technologies when waste heat and renewable power are used, whilst having the potential to cut the cost of hydrogen by 30%.

Another company evolving electrolyser technology is sHYp, who are developing a membrane-less electrolyser technology that uses only sea water to produce chemicals with a 60% reduction in energy and carbon footprint. This is carried out with no desalination, purification, or toxic waste.

By encouraging focused ingenuity through dedicated facilities, new electrolysis methods can be incubated and improvements can be made to mature designs. In doing so, we can speed up product development, enable industrial problem solving and deliver electrolyser efficiency gains, supporting a thriving future hydrogen economy. 

HYDROGEN

THE ENERGY TRANSITION ZONE –

Green Hydrogen Test and Demonstration Facilities

Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland is recognised internationally for pioneering low carbon hydrogen solutions.

Aberdeen already has a decade of hydrogen production experience and is home to Europe’s most diverse range of hydrogen transport vehicles. Excitingly, the region is ideally placed to deliver a substantial proportion of the UK’s future low carbon hydrogen requirements – potentially up to 20% of the 2030 target of 10 gigawatts (GW) – as a result of a number of current and near-future projects.

One of these is the exciting partnership between bp and Aberdeen City Council which plans to build the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub project that will deliver new scalable green hydrogen production, storage and distribution facilities. This pioneering project will be located within the geography of the Energy Transition Zone, which is gearing up to be the largest dedicated energy transition complex in Scotland, on a 250 hectare site adjacent to the £420 million Aberdeen South Harbour,

the city’s deep-water and non-tidal port development.

The Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub is also at the centre of a new regional “Hydrogen Valley” development proposal, called TH 2 ISTLE. The Hydrogen Valley will deliver new and interconnected projects to make, move and use green hydrogen in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. This initiative has attracted a consortium of 30 partners (from Scotland, UK and overseas) and is coordinated by Aberdeen City Council, bp, Energy Transition Zone Ltd, Hydrasun, Net Zero Technology Centre and Scottish Enterprise. In April 2024, the group submitted a formal bid to the EU Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s small valley call for €9 million funding, which would be additional to funding committed by other private and public sector sources. More than 50 letters of support were provided as part of the bid, demonstrating strong evidence that the TH 2 ISTLE project is key to the development of a hydrogen market in the region. A funding decision is expected in Summer 2024 and the TH 2 ISTLE project’s prospective start date will be early 2025.

The Hydrogen Valley bid is an example of ETZ Ltd’s goal to reposition the region as a globally recognised new and green energy

cluster. Energy Transition Zone Ltd (ETZ Ltd) is a private sector-led and not for profit company, funded by both the Scottish and UK Government and tasked with spearheading the North East of Scotland's energy transition ambition, to build on North East Scotland’s strengths in oil and gas and pursue new opportunities in offshore wind, hydrogen and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS). As an example, the combined potential of ScotWind and INTOG offshore wind leasing rounds is 33GW of power generation capacity, of which 24 GW is floating wind. The majority of these offshore wind sites are located within 100 nautical miles of Aberdeen.

We also have world class carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) storage sites off our coast. For instance, 24 gigatons of CO 2 storage is within a 50 km radius of the proposed Acorn CCS project offshore pipeline infrastructure. To put that figure into context, that equates to 75 years of the UK’s total CO 2 emissions in 2020.

The Acorn CCS project also enables the potential for large scale blue hydrogen production at St Fergus via the Acorn Hydrogen project, which is a key project within the region’s portfolio North East Scotland has the potential to generate significantly

in excess of 1GW of low carbon hydrogen production within the next decade as a result of scaling up blue hydrogen production at St Fergus and building new large scale green hydrogen projects such as Kintore Hydrogen, which is being developed by Statera Energy.

The region’s long oil and gas history provides many advantages to future energy transition investors such as:

45,000 people employed in energy, equating to 40% of Scotland’s energy workforce

Over 1,000 energy companies employing a highly skilled workforce

A quarter of Scotland’s top 100 companies are located in the region, which is a mix of multi- national companies, large global service companies, SMEs and start-ups

One of the world’s biggest clusters of subsea engineering capabilities

ETZ Ltd intends to build on both the exciting pipeline of new energy transition project and the region’s existing strengths by completing the development of the Energy Transition Zone, which comprises a number of specialist campuses across a mix of brownfield and greenfield sites. One of these is the “Hydrogen Campus” which will be enabled by developing up to 15 hectares of land to attract new high-value manufacturing opportunities to Aberdeen, such as electrolyser or fuel cell manufacturing. It will also provide facilities for

supporting hydrogen supply chain companies, further strengthening Aberdeen’s reputation as a centre of excellence for hydrogen.

Within the Hydrogen Campus, ETZ Ltd is leading the development of the flagship Green Hydrogen Test and Demonstration Facilities (GHTDF) - a purpose built, industrial scale test site to support the emerging hydrogen sector with technology demonstration and hydrogen component testing such as meters and valves. The test facilities will focus on the emerging green hydrogen production market in particular.

The GHTDF will benefit from being able to offer “on demand” green hydrogen to industrial users from a local green hydrogen production facility which will produce hydrogen via electrolysis using solar power. This hydrogen production facility is located within the Energy Transition Zone, less than half a mile from the proposed site for the GHTDF.

GHTDF will be built in a flexible, phased approach allowing the facilities to grow organically over time, reacting to new technology requirements as they are identified by industry as well as taking advantage of new funding opportunities. The first phase of the development will focus on outdoor testing and will provide the equipment to enable such testing opportunities as electrolyser

performance testing, fuel cell testing, system integration, valve testing and flow meter calibration.

As well as offering industrial testing facilities the GHTDF will also offer customers backoffice support services and ETZ Ltd will work with partners to deliver a full wrap around support service for companies utilising it. This will include financial or legal advice, technical and operational support as well as business growth support.

Along with industry and academic partners, ETZ Ltd is taking forward this ambitious project at pace. During 2024 the GHTDF project will progress with detailed design and ETZ Ltd will engage an experienced partner to operate the facility to the highest industry standards as well as look to secure additional investment from industry.

ETZ Ltd is leading the development of the flagship Green Hydrogen Test and Demonstration Facilities (GHTDF) - a purpose built, industrial scale test site to support the emerging hydrogen sector with technology demonstration and hydrogen component testing such as meters & valves.

ETZ Ltd also wants to ensure the facility meets current industry testing requirements and will be conducting further market analysis during 2024. Organisations working in hydrogen are encouraged to get in touch to discuss their hydrogen testing and demonstration needs.

The North East of Scotland is one of the most attractive locations in Europe to invest in low carbon technologies and ETZ Ltd’s compelling hydrogen offer is a great example of why this is the case. 

GREEN HYDROGEN: Fuelling the UK's Clean Energy Revolution

Scotland is poised to become a pivotal player in the green hydrogen sector, with ambitious plans to establish a robust export market to Germany and potentially dominate the European hydrogen landscape

The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) has outlined a comprehensive strategy to harness Scotland's renewable energy resources for the production of green hydrogen, which could meet a significant portion of Germany's hydrogen demand by 2045. This initiative is not only a testament to Scotland's commitment to sustainable energy but also a strategic move to strengthen its economy through green technology exports.

The 'Enabling Green Hydrogen Exports: Matching Scottish Production to German Demand' report, produced by NZTC in collaboration with German based Cruh21, provides a detailed analysis of the potential for Scottish hydrogen production and the corresponding demand in Germany, creating a blueprint for hydrogen export and consumption. It explores multi-sector end-use, the necessary technologies, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks to enable a safe and effective distribution of hydrogen. The report highlights two critical developmental stages: the short term, up to 2030, focusing on early production and enduse activities, and a longer-term view from 2030-2045, involving the commissioning and ramp-up of pipeline infrastructure to facilitate enhanced distribution at a lower cost.

The report, which focuses on the off-taker potential and on cross-border distribution of the volumes of hydrogen available, complements NZTC’s Hydrogen Backbone Link (HBL) project which evaluates transport infrastructure and specifically the reuse vs new build of a dedicated hydrogen pipeline.

The HBL project is anticipated to create around 700 jobs, contributing to Scotland's green economy and enabling Scotland to become a significant green hydrogen exporter. If realised, the HBL project could enable Scotland to meet up to 10% of Europe's projected hydrogen import demand by the mid-2030s.

The technology required to deliver the HBL project has advanced, and retrofitting will also accelerate development, but investment is needed to reduce costs and scale up solutions to enable the system to function effectively. Emerging compressor technologies, such as turbo, electrochemical, and compact centrifugal designs, require accelerated development and scale-up. In parallel, experimental testing of existing meter and valve designs with hydrogen as a test medium is necessary to understand the operational limits.

To capitalise on this opportunity, the NZTC report recommends a series of actions, including conducting comprehensive research, prioritising infrastructure investments, strengthening energy partnerships, monitoring market dynamics, and reassessing export targets to align with evolving demand trends. These actions are crucial for overcoming challenges and seizing the opportunities presented by the burgeoning hydrogen market.

Scotland's strategic approach to green hydrogen production and export is a bold step towards achieving its net-zero targets and establishing itself as a leader in the European green energy sector. As the world shifts towards cleaner energy sources, Scotland's vision for green hydrogen could serve as a model for other countries looking to transition away from fossil fuels and towards a greener economy. Success depends on continued innovation, investment, and international collaboration, but the groundwork laid by NZTC and its partners promises a bright future for green hydrogen in Scotland and beyond. 

Chart Industries Joins ZESTAs, Fostering Collaboration in Absolute Zero Emission Ship Technologies

LONDON, 21 MAY 2024 – Chart Industries Inc., a leading global solutions provider to clean energy and industrial gas markets, has officially joined ZESTAs (Zero Emission Ship Technology Association) as an associate member.

With an extensive track record in developing cryogenic technologies for hydrogen propulsion as well as air lubrication for reducing fuel consumption and steam turbines for waste heat recovery, Chart Industries brings invaluable expertise and innovation to the realm of zero emission ship technologies. By aligning forces with ZESTAs, Chart is poised to accelerate the adoption of absolute zero emission solutions in maritime transportation, contributing to global efforts to mitigate carbon emissions and combat climate change.

"Chart Industries is thrilled to join ZESTAs and collaborate with fellow industry leaders in driving innovation within zero emission ship technologies" stated Jill Evanko, CEO of Chart Industries. "Our commitment to leveraging our wide range of solutions and expertise for sustainable maritime solutions finds a natural synergy with ZESTAs' mission. Together, we are poised to revolutionize the maritime sector towards a sustainable future."

ZESTAs serves as a nexus for industry associations and technology providers to exchange insights, foster partnerships, and address challenges in zero emission ship technologies. By harnessing collective expertise and resources, ZESTAs plays a pivotal role in propelling innovation and collaboration within the maritime domain.

"We warmly welcome Chart Industries as the newest member of ZESTAs," remarked Madadh MacLaine, Secretary-General at ZESTAs. "Chart's leadership in cryogenic

solutions is poised to significantly bolster our collective efforts in making an absolute zero emission supply chain a reality within the maritime industry, onshore and offshore. We eagerly anticipate the impactful contributions Chart will bring to our collaborative endeavors."

As a proud member of ZESTAs, Chart Industries gains access to a wealth of benefits, including networking opportunities, industry insights, participation in collaborative initiatives such as ShipZERO events and a voice at the International Maritime Organization.

Challenging the Status Quo: finding new

ways to help our clients be sustainable

Intervention Rentals has always been committed to bridging the gap between traditional energy services and a sustainable future. With over 17 years of experience, the company has consistently sought innovative ways to meet emerging energy needs.

This dedication led to the creation of Sustainable Solutions, a division specializing in agriculture, aquaculture, distilleries, and general industry. By leveraging renewable innovation and proven expertise, Sustainable Solutions aims to enhance productivity and sustainability across various sectors, embodying the company's vision of a greener future.

In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, saving, reemploying and repurposing resources is no longer a mere option but a necessity. Sustainable Solutions, a division of Intervention Rentals, is at the forefront of this transition, embodying a commitment to integrating innovative technologies and sustainable practices across 4 key sectors. The creation of this division is not just a response to the growing demand for greener practices but a proactive effort to lead by example.

Defining a Vision and Choosing Partners Wisely

A clear and ambitious vision is the cornerstone of any successful scope 3 sustainability initiative. Sustainable Solutions is dedicated to becoming the leading partner for businesses looking to enhance their sustainability portfolio and reduce costs.

This vision guides every decision, from the technologies we implement to the partners we choose. It is crucial to collaborate with partners who share this vision, ensuring that every step taken is aligned with our long-term goals. Choosing clients who are equally committed to sustainability further strengthens this mission, creating a unified front in the pursuit of environmental stewardship and ultimately improving the sustainable credentials and reporting of our clients.

Challenging the Status Quo& Collaborating to Innovate

Sustainable Solutions is not content with maintaining the status quo. We believe in challenging existing norms and practices to find better, more sustainable ways of operating. This often involves innovative collaborations with other technology leaders and stakeholders. By combining resources and expertise, we can develop cutting-edge solutions that drive significant improvements in sustainability. Collaboration is key to innovation, and through joint efforts, we can achieve more than any single entity could on its own.

Embracing the Circular Economy

A major focus of Sustainable Solutions is the circular economy, which emphasizes reducing waste and making the most of resources. This

approach involves rethinking product life cycles, from design and production to consumption and disposal.

By promoting practices such as recycling, reusing, and repurposing materials, we can minimize waste and create a more sustainable industrial ecosystem.

Technologies like Vacuum Distillation, Proteus Multi-Metering, Filtration Technologies and Solids Control Equipment, DAF (Dissolved Air Flotation) Systems, CIP (Clean-in-Place) Systems and Onsite Laboratory Analysis and Technical Report Writing are pivotal in this effort, enabling us to recover valuable resources and reduce overall environmental impact. Which is why we have chosen best in class partners like Axium Process and RS Hydro.

Geothermal

Sustainable Supply Chain and Carbon Reduction

Sustainable Solutions ensure that we take carbon and Greenhouse gasses off the road and reduce the need for unnecessary waste to maximise our clients carbon reporting in scope 3 emissions by integrating our technologies to enhance operational efficiency, product quality, and environmental sustainability reporting, with the aim of supporting diverse industries in their quest for a greener and more profitable future. This holistic approach not only addresses immediate sustainability needs but also lays the foundation for long-term environmental planning and business success.

Client and Industry Engagement

The positive response from clients has been a testament to the effectiveness and necessity of Sustainable Solutions. Our clients appreciate the detailed care and customized approaches we offer, helping them become the most sustainable versions of themselves, regardless of their industry. This commitment to client satisfaction and industry relations is a central tenet of Sustainable Solutions. By working closely with clients and understanding their unique needs, we can provide tailored solutions that drive both sustainability and business success.

Conclusion

Our approach is a planned and managed step towards a greener, more sustainable future. By defining a clear vision, choosing partners & clients wisely, challenging the status quo, and embracing the circular economy, we are not only enhancing operational efficiency but also paving the way for long-term environmental management. 

Alex Leddy

Peter Meldrum

Electrification is plan A, but what is plan B if you can’t electrify your asset?

In the quest to decarbonise offshore energy assets, where power generation accounts for almost 80% of the UKCS emissions, electrification stands as the primary strategy.

Significant advancements are being made to floating offshore wind technology. By 2030 it is estimated offshore wind will provide almost 7% of the EU’s electricity, and almost 91% of this contribution will be supplied from the North Sea.

However, electrification is not always viable due to factors such as asset age, location, available space on the platform, or prohibitive costs. So, what else can be implemented to reduce emissions from power generation?

Power management through correctly sizing turbines for current operations and downsizing is an option, but replacing what is already installed is expensive.

Optimisation and digitalisation present immediate, albeit incremental, benefits. Digital power management systems can enhance efficiency by balancing power needs in real-time, aligning energy production with actual demand.

Whilst these incremental gains move assets towards decarbonisation, a more substantial shift involves transitioning to low carbon fuel solutions. A phased approach to replacing diesel with bio-diesel can yield significant emissions reductions. Furthermore, retrofitting existing fuel gas or dual-fuel turbines, to operate on alternative e-fuels presents a promising avenue.

E-fuels come in many forms such as methanol, diesel and kerosene but the starting point is always the combination of green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide. The process involves taking hydrogen gas and converting it into a liquid fuel, which removes one of the largest challenges of hydrogen as a fuel – its low volumetric energy density.

Biggest impact with the newest approach

Retrofitting existing equipment and running it on alternative fuels represents the biggest impact where electrification isn’t feasible. This not only aids in reducing emissions but also extends the life and utility of current assets.

The adoption of e-methanol (produced from renewable electricity and captured CO2 from a coal power plant) as a fuel over natural gas would provide an emissions reduction of approximately 74%.

At NZTC we’re proving it’s feasible and scalable. In a world-first pilot, along with Siemens Energy we successfully demonstrated a green methanol-powered aero-derived gas turbine; the SGT-A20, first used industrially in 1964. Minimal retrofitting was done on the turbine which supports the analysis that we’ve done up until now, which shows there are no real technical barriers to conversion to use it offshore. The modifications were also still compatible with other fuels, which increases the operational flexibility of the turbine.

However, as this is a new approach and the technology is still nascent, it introduces challenges such as ensuring safe storage and handling, managing logistics, cost of e-fuels and securing a steady supply chain.

FPSOs are best placed to address many of these issues due to the existing storage tanks, which are already sized at the capacities needed. For fixed assets, especially those powered by low-cost produced natural gas, this can be more difficult. However, retrofittable subsea liquid storage systems are being developed for offshore platforms, and the large uptake of synthetic fuels from other industries mean the supply chains are forming to produce green fuels at scale. In terms of synthetic e-kerosene, adoption has already been vastly integrated into the aviation industry.

For green methanol, the marine industry is driving the global production, with over 220 large methanol compatible ships on order. The global production of bio-methanol and e-methanol is set to increase from 0.8 Million tonnes in 2024, to an estimated 19.7 million tonnes by 2029, from over 130 projects currently underway. None of which, are in the UK.

Green ammonia is also a promising alternative fuel due to the feedstock availability and the low feedstock volume requirements.

The notable differentiator between ammonia and methanol is the storage conditions. Methanol is a liquid at ambient pressure and temperature whereas ammonia needs to be either refrigerated past its boiling point of around -33°C or pressurised to remain in a liquid state. This makes the substance more challenging to handle, although there is extensive onshore experience in handling and transportation of ammonia via its use in the fertilis er industry.

Whilst ammonia is a completely carbon-free fuel in comparison to carbon-neutral methanol, ammonia is significantly more damaging to the environment on NOx emissions. Although this greenhouse gas has a shorter life-expectancy in the atmosphere, in comparison to CO2, their Global Warming Potential over a twenty-year period can be up to three-hundred times more potent. NOx gases in the atmosphere also contribute to respiratory issues in humans, as well as smog and acid rain.

Boosting the adoption of alternative fuels requires tackling supply challenges to achieve cost competitiveness with conventional fuels. Transporting methanol is similar to current fuel logistics, yet establishing green methanol production in the UK is crucial for market competition within Europe.

In an ideal world, Plan A would be electrification, however, a robust Plan B that combines digital optimisation, equipment modification and alternative fuels will still help in achieving emission reduction targets.

NZTC’s Horizon Scanning service provides regular bespoke insights on emerging technologies, industry trends, global projects and policy. Short and long-term profile scanning enables organisations to stay ahead, future-proof their business and support their diversification strategy by providing a clear understanding of the technology and global landscape.

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY ZONE

Leyton is an international consulting firm that helps businesses leverage financial non-dilutive incentives to accelerate their growth and achieve long lasting performance.

We simplify your access to these complex incentives. Our combined teams of highly skilled Tax and Technical specialists, enhanced with

cutting-edge digital tools developed internally, maximise the financial benefits for any type of businesses.

With compliance always front of mind, we have been delivering optimal services for our clients for over 24 years. This provides peace of mind that you will always receive the maximum benefit, without taking risks.

Harnessing the power of the waves

There is an ever-growing need for the development of renewable energy sources worldwide due to environmental concerns associated with fossil fuel consumption, as well as the finite nature of these resources.

In light of this, wave energy has emerged as a promising and largely untapped renewable energy source. It is a form of renewable energy that takes advantage of the motion of waves to generate electricity. Waves are generated as a result of the water’s motion, gravitational forces, and winds, and they contain a substantial amount of kinetic energy. Wave energy converters, also known as wave energy devices, are designed to capture this energy and convert it into usable electrical power. Various technologies are employed to capture wave energy, including oscillating water columns, point absorbers, attenuators, and overtopping devices. Wave energy has the potential to provide a consistent and reliable source of renewable energy that is not dependent on weather conditions, making it an attractive option for coastal regions with strong wave resources.

However, this cannot be achieved without ongoing research and development efforts that seek to develop efficient and costeffective wave energy devices, accurate wave resource assessment methods, and advancements in power take-off systems for optimal energy conversion. Additionally, there is a need for materials and structural

engineering to ensure device durability, environmental impact assessment to mitigate ecological consequences, and grid integration and energy storage advancements for reliable electricity generation. Furthermore, R&D aims to reduce the levelised cost of energy through optimisation of device design, manufacturing processes, deployment strategies, and maintenance techniques to ensure long-term operational efficiency and economic viability.

Continuous research, development, and collaboration across various sectors can lead to breakthroughs that make renewable energy more competitive with fossil fuels and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy globally. The United Kingdom is at the forefront of research and innovation in this field. With its extensive coastline and abundant marine resources, the UK has

invested heavily in wave energy projects, leading to significant advancements in technology. This commitment to innovation has positioned the UK as a global leader in wave and tidal energy research, fostering collaborations with international partners to accelerate the deployment of these renewable energy technologies on a commercial scale.

To support these efforts, companies engaged in pioneering projects can explore the potential benefits of HMRC’s R&D Tax Relief Scheme. Leyton, a renowned innovation funding leader, offers expert guidance and support to help firms secure financial backing for their research and development initiatives. Leveraging Leyton’s extensive experience ensures that companies can confidently apply for R&D funding, maximising the rewards for their innovative endeavours. 

Infinity Partnership: Your Partner in Business www.infinity-partnership.com

Infinity Partnership is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary accountancy and business advisory practice, with a proactive approach to customer service.

Infinity has been a five-time winner at the British Accountancy Awards and has been a three-time finalist at the Scottish Accountancy Awards in recent times.

THREE60 Energy secures three-year Framework Agreement for EMEC

THREE60 Energy, a leading provider of renewable energy solutions including grid connection and operations & maintenance services, proudly announces the successful award of a three-year contract with the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

This contract marks a significant milestone in advancing sustainable energy solutions in Scotland and underscores THREE60's commitment to driving innovation in the renewable energy sector.

THREE60 will collaborate closely with EMEC, delivering electrical services to support the demonstration of cutting-edge renewable energy projects. Leveraging its expertise in electrical engineering in both renewable energy technologies and project management, THREE60 will support EMEC in its mission to accelerate the deployment of marine energy technologies, including wave and tidal energy, in the European market.

"We are thrilled to continue to support our long-standing relationship with EMEC, which

"We are pleased to contract THREE60 Energy on the provision of essential electrical services at our wave and tidal energy test sites," said Jonathan Lindsay, Operations and Technology Director, at EMEC. "Their deep understanding of our test site infrastructure, including our substations and subsea cables, makes them an ideal partner. By supporting the connection of wave and tidal energy technologies at our sites, THREE60 are supporting the development of the marine energy sector which will ultimately contribute to Europe’s renewable energy targets and help mitigate climate change."

The three-year contract signifies a long-term commitment between THREE60 and EMEC to collaborate on renewable energy initiatives encompassing electrical services.

THREE60 Energy is a leading global provider of innovative engineering, technology and energy transition solutions across the asset life cycle from design to decommissioning. Through a 1,000-strong workforce, THREE60 is a trusted partner for ambitious companies of all sizes. The company combines expert engineering, operations and project management with proprietary technologies and products to unlock value for its customers. With deep expertise in oil and gas, nuclear, onshore and offshore wind, alongside a growing position in carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and geothermal, THREE60 is helping deliver the energy transition.

continues to support our local team in Orkney, a team we hope will continue to grow." said Scott Roy, Strategic Development Director at THREE60. "This partnership not only reflects our shared vision for a sustainable future but also highlights the confidence placed in THREE60's capabilities to deliver electrical services to support client connections at EMEC’s test sites and training for EMEC’s personnel. Together with EMEC, we work to drive the adoption of marine energy technologies and pave the way for a cleaner, greener tomorrow."

EMEC, renowned for its expertise in marine energy testing and demonstration, selected THREE60 based on its proven track record of delivering high-quality renewable energy projects.

THREE60 also supports the defence industry across all sub-markets (land, navy, marine, aerospace, etc.) and services the industrial and marine sectors through a complementary group of businesses. By underpinning its services with advanced digital solutions, THREE60 remains committed to offering emissions reducing solutions

About EMEC: The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) is the world's leading test facility for wave and tidal energy converters. Based in Orkney, Scotland, EMEC provides unparalleled expertise and resources for testing and demonstrating marine energy technologies, with a mission to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future. 

19 North East businesses selected for offshore renewables supply chain programme

Nineteen businesses in the North East of Scotland have been selected for the successful Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) supply chain support programme – ready to accelerate companies into the offshore renewable energy market.

F4OR North East is delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, in partnership with the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ Ltd), and this will be the fourth time the programme has run in the region.

Davood Sabaei, F4OR project manager at ORE Catapult, said: “We are delighted to be delivering another round of F4OR in the North East of Scotland, grateful for the support from all the companies who have applied and can recognise the value in doing so, and for the endorsement from ETZ Ltd. who are aligned with our ambitions to creating a world class energy supply chain as part of the clean energy transition.

“Following this latest round, over 80 companies in the North East of Scotland will have been part of the F4OR programme – giving businesses the skills and expertise needed for success in the offshore renewables sector, building on the strong heritage of offshore operations in the region.”

ETZ Ltd are funding the latest F4OR North East programme with £288,000 after they also supported the second and third rounds in the region. F4OR is a key part of ETZ Ltd’s two-phase support initiative, alongside a challenge fund that will deliver capital investment grants to help North East Scotland energy supply chain companies achieve their low carbon business ambitions.

Freda Miller, Supply Chain Programme Manager at ETZ Ltd, added: “ETZ is delighted to partner with ORE Catapult in delivering the F4OR programme to another cohort of 19 companies in North East Scotland. The advice and expertise given to companies is of true quality and benefits the companies greatly during the process in achieving granted status and beyond. We have had great feedback from participating companies in achieving fantastic results in the offshore wind industry.”

The 19 companies selected for F4OR North East come from a wide range of sectors including engineering, operations and maintenance, and energy connection technology.

Kevin Drewett, Director of Clean Energy at Wood, said: “As offshore wind continues to play a key role in the UK’s energy security strategy, industry partnerships focused on

enabling better collaboration across the supply chain are critical to ensuring the renewables sector continues to grow. We now look forward to working with F4OR and the newly selected cohort to accelerate the development of projects that will propel us towards achieving the UK’s carbon reduction goals.”

David Halliday, Business and Commercial Manager at selected company Roemex, added: “Roemex are very pleased to have been selected for the F4OR North East programme. We have strategically diversified into offshore wind and geothermal sectors in the last five years, and this demonstrates not only our commitment to energy transition but our commitment to the wider energy sector for the long term. We are in the early stages of delivering our own net zero plan, and to have growing revenue streams from the green energy sector is part of the wider plan.

“The F4OR programme will be pivotal in helping us develop, and further commercialise, our offshore wind corrosion mitigation chemistry and we look forward to engaging with various stakeholders as we work through the programme.”

F4OR is a 12-18 month programme, designed alongside industry experts, and it has experienced widespread success across the UK since it started in 2019. To date, five F4OR regional programmes have been delivered in the North East of Scotland, as well as in the North East of England, East Anglia and Suffolk, alongside national programmes run across Scotland and UK-wide. Over 110 companies have been supported altogether, with participants experiencing an average 28% increase in turnover and many securing a wide range of new contracts. 

Rovco to Work on Site Characterisation at 1.5 GW Offshore Wind Project in UK

Rovco has been selected for site characterisation work on the 1.5 GW Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind project in the UK.

With the project scheduled to start imminently, the UK-based company will be responsible for carrying out a full geophysical investigation of several key sites at Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind off the Lincolnshire coast.

The scope of work will involve mapping both the seabed and sub-seabed conditions to identify hazards that may affect the future installation of wind turbines and subsea cables.

In addition, Rovco will conduct benthic environmental surveys of the site, helping to better understand and minimise any disruption to local wildlife.

The work will be carried out by one of the company’s dedicated survey vessels, Glomar Supporter, which features an unnamed surface vessel (USV) onboard to deliver simultaneous data collection with instant upload to the ship.

The vessel also has a work class ROV for concurrent inspection activities.

“This work will be key to ensuring we design the Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind farm to the highest standards and with strong environmental stewardship. As we progress our engineering work, we aim to bolster the UK skill-base and supply chain, which will in turn help the UK reach net zero. We look forward to working with Rovco to add 1.5 GW of renewable power to the UK power mix, reducing emissions and improving UK energy security,” said Luis McArthur, Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Survey Manager.

The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind project is a joint venture between TotalEnergies, Corio Generation, a portfolio company of Macquarie Asset Management, and Gulf Energy Development.

The project’s Development Consent Order application was accepted by the Planning Inspectorate in April 2024 and includes an offshore wind farm comprising up to 100 turbines, underground cables to carry the power from the landfall site close to Anderby Marsh, and a new onshore substation at Surfleet Marsh.

The project will then connect to existing National Grid overhead transmission lines in the Weston Marsh area.

With a planned installed capacity of 1.5 GW, it will be one of the UK’s largest offshore wind farms upon completion. 

Westwood Global Energy Group are specialist providers of detailed market intelligence for the offshore energy sector, covering; offshore rigs, production facilities, subsea equipment, subsea services, offshore marine and offshore renewables and power. Westwood Global Energy Group

More realism in floating wind, as the UK is set to miss its 2030 floating target by around 90%

A look at the current status of global floating offshore wind targets and key takeaways from Westwood’s recent Floating Wind Survey

Targets indicate the ambition and pathway of an industry, helping to align stakeholders. Following recent market upheaval caused primarily by cost inflation, together with the subsequent re-focusing of developer strategies, means that many offshore wind targets are now likely to be missed.

According to Westwood’s WindLogix analysis, for floating wind specifically, the UK is set to miss its 2030 target by around 90% and the US its 2035 target by around 82%. As a result of increasing uncertainty, Westwood now takes a more risk-based assessment of the offshore wind pipeline and projects. Download our Project Certainty White Paper for further details.

Only a few years ago the floating wind industry generated huge targets and expectations. In 2022, the UK government set a target of up to 5GW by 2030, the 1GW Trollvind project was announced with startup in 2027, the US set itself a 15GW target by 2035, and most notably 22.4GW of floating capacity was awarded (across Scotwind, Scotwind Clearing and Pacific Coast).

However, the outlook for floating has been challenged, and two years on, it is time to consider how the future of the floating industry is now being perceived.

Floating Wind Survey 2024

Westwood, in partnership with Norwegian Offshore Wind and World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO), surveyed over 180 floating offshore wind stakeholders on industry sentiment and attitudes across the value chain. Four key themes emerged from the findings.

Theme 1: More optimism than headlines suggest

General consensus deviates when it comes to the question of optimism, relative to the highs of two years ago. On balance there is a more positive picture around sentiment than a lot of the headlines suggest. While optimism has waned, 62% of respondents have either maintained their optimism or are more positive about the industry. There are regional nuances to this, with 42% of European respondents less optimistic about the floating offshore wind sector, compared with 30% for non-Europe respondents.

Globally, and importantly, 44% of developers are more optimistic about the sector than two years ago whereas that shrinks to just under a quarter of supply chain respondents, potentially pointing to a lag in projects coming to tender for their services.

Relative to two years ago, has your view of floating wind changed?

Source: Westwood Floating Offshore Wind Survey 2024

Theme 2: A question of pace

When asked how much capacity would be operational by 2030 and 2040 and which countries would be key to bringing floating wind to life, there is now a lot more realism in the market for near-term growth, with Europe and the UK playing a central role.

The majority of respondents (54%) expect under 3GW of global capacity to be operational by 2030, with Europe reaching 0.5-2GW in the same timeframe (61%).

Leading up to 2040 respondents continue to have diverse views of the pace of growth the industry can achieve. There is still a lot of uncertainty, as would be expected.

To bring that ambition to life though, a great deal of importance was placed on achieving momentum in the UK in particular – 71% chose this as their main front-runner – with South Korea, Mainland China, France and Norway being other key markets to watch.

Theme 3: Hurdles across the value chain

The challenge for the industry is that it is facing a broad range of hurdles that is holding it back from progress.

The survey revealed that a lack of standardisation of floating technology (55%), manufacturing capability and capacity (51%) and port infrastructure (50%) as the most commonly cited hurdles and risks to floating offshore wind progress. This indicates a need for accelerated investment, regulation and supply chain co-ordination globally for the sector to achieve its ambitions.

It is worth noting that each group of respondents has its own top tiered issue. For example, developers are particularly port focused, which highlights that while there is a broad consensus, groups are prioritising different areas.

What do you think are the major hurdles/key risks to floating wind development?

Note: The last two risks (Cost and Others) represent grouped responses to capture freeform replies.

Source: Westwood Floating Offshore Wind Survey 2024

Theme 4: More, please

The final emerging theme reveals that the floating wind industry is asking the government for more, and more focused, support. Aligning with the hurdles, calls are ringing out for governments to provide more specific policy and regulatory support for technology development in addition to cost reduction and investment in port infrastructure to accelerate adoption.

In conclusion, the survey results revealed a generally optimistic outlook relative to two years ago, especially amongst developers, but recognises that a set of broad and fundamental hurdles to growth persist. This has led to more realism in the growth trajectory of the industry. More focused policy, regulatory support and direct investment into port infrastructure and projects are part of the 'ask'. If governments want this industry to progress, they really need to do a lot more to help it grow. 

David Linden Executive Director & Head of Energy Transition

How much floating wind capacity do you anticipate will be operational by 2030 and 2040 respectively?

Source: Westwood Floating Offshore Wind Survey 2024

Westwood Global Energy Group

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3t Training Services (previously AIS Survivex) is the UK’s largest provider of renewables training, with 1 in 5 Global Wind Organisation (GWO) delegates passing through our doors.

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