Orcadian submits North Sea electrification proposal

June 8, 2022

Orcadian Energy has delivered its final report on its proposal for electrification of production facilities in the U.K. Central North Sea to the North Sea Transition Authority.

Power would be supplied from floating offshore wind turbines, supported by energy efficient, gas-powered generators with sufficient battery power to ensure a reliable supply.

Offshore staff

LONDON — Orcadian Energy delivered its final report on its proposal for electrification of production facilities in the U.K. Central North Sea to the North Sea Transition Authority on May 9.

The company describes its Microgrid concept as “a viable, reliable, off-grid option for powering North Sea platforms.” Power would be supplied from floating offshore wind turbines, supported by energy efficient, gas-powered generators with sufficient battery power to ensure a reliable supply.

Floating distribution hubs would collect the power from the wind turbines and distribute it to various operators’ platforms through a network of cables. Orcadian believes this approach would be more effective and less costly than cable from shore solutions, with potential to deliver an earlier and deeper reduction in emissions.

The company also claims that future operating costs could be reduced substantially, allowing mature fields to remain in production for a longer period, with further incentives to develop satellite discoveries with minimized emissions.

Microgrid’s components could be delivered quickly and in phases, the company adds, with opportunities for the core infrastructure to be reused or redeployed.

Orcadian plans to approach various operators with a proposal to further progress the electrification concept. It may also seek to participate in the upcoming Crown Estate Scotland INTOG (Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas) offshore wind leasing round to support implementation of the concept.