Aker BP switches two North Sea platforms to shore power

Dec. 12, 2022

Aker BP has started running the Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen production platforms in the Norwegian North Sea with electric power from shore.

The Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen production platforms on the Utsira High area in the North Sea are now operated with electric power from shore.

Offshore staff

LYSAKER, Norway — Aker BP has started running the Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen production platforms in the Norwegian North Sea with electric power from shore.

This replaces two gas-fired turbines on the Grieg platform, both of which have been shut down.

According to Kari Nielsen, asset manager Edvard Grieg & Ivar Aasen, the switch will cut CO₂ emissions from production by about 200,000 t per year. “In addition, we reduce operating costs since we will no longer operate our own power plant on the platform,” Nielsen added.

The turbines had supplied heat and power to both fields since startup in 2015 and 2016.

However, the Edvard Grieg development was prepared to receive electricity from the start of the construction phase in 2012 to meet the requirements of the authorities.

Then in 2014, Norway’s Parliament (Stortinget) called for an area-wide power supply from shore development for Johan Sverdrup, with other installations in the Utsira High area to be connected in tandem with Phase 2 of the Johan Sverdrup development.

The demand for heat in the processing plant is covered by electric boilers.

There have been two projects:

One involves installation of the seabed cable (supplied by NKT HV Cable) between Johan Sverdrup and Edvard Grieg; and
The other involves development and installation of a system using electric boilers that ensures the heat required in the process plant.

Parat Halvorsen developed and constructed the boiler package, adapting equipment that was initially developed for use onshore, with Aker Solutions installing the boiler package on board the Grieg platform.

12.12.2022