Renewables initiative aims to better understand ocean energy systems, address subsea power challenges
By Cameron McNatt, Mocean Energy
Delivering reliable and cost-effective power to subsea equipment has long been a formidable challenge for the offshore energy industry. Traditional methods are often carbon-intensive and come with significant logistical and financial burdens.
By harnessing the power of the ocean, and also the sun, the offshore sector can work toward its ambition of reducing carbon emissions and creating a more sustainable future.
Subsea power challenges
Subsea oil and gas operations—as well as the carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives that will be vital to the transition—hinge upon a reliable and consistent power source. However, as the sector goes farther offshore in the hunt for additional hydrocarbon reserves, the remoteness of many of these installations makes traditional power solutions, such as diesel generators or umbilical cables, costly and environmentally taxing.
Mocean Energy released its hybrid ocean energy systems in 2015. The company's Blue Star wave energy converter was designed specifically for subsea applications in oil and gas and CCS. It generates renewable energy from ocean waves and offshore solar, storing it in advanced battery systems. This technology was designed to ensure a consistent and reliable energy supply, tailored to meet the demanding requirements of subsea operations. Moreover, the system includes a communications link, enhancing operational efficiency and enabling real-time data exchange.
Case study
The Renewables for Subsea Power project is a collaborative initiative that brought together Mocean Energy, the Net Zero Technology Centre, Verlume, Transmark Subsea, Baker Hughes and key oil and gas operators, including Shell, TotalEnergies, PTTEP, Harbour Energy and Serica Energy. As well as demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of an integrated renewable energy system, the initiative also incorporated wave energy, subsea batteries, an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and subsea control modules.
One of the project’s most noteworthy milestones was operating the entire system “over-the-horizon,” powered exclusively by renewable energy. Mocean Energy believes this achievement demonstrated the potential of ocean energy technology to transform subsea operations, while enabling autonomous and low-carbon solutions far from shore. By integrating renewable energy systems with subsea technology, the project also aimed to showcase where sustainable offshore operations are heading.
Having proved the system in the harsh water of the North Sea, the partners are now looking to test it elsewhere and build understanding of ocean energy solutions.
By leveraging renewable energy sources, ocean energy systems drastically cut greenhouse-gas emissions compared to traditional power solutions, while autonomous and renewable systems reduce the need for costly fuel and infrastructure. Moreover, advanced battery storage can ensure uninterrupted power supply, even in varying weather conditions. Crucially, the size and design of the Blue Star system also allows it to support a range of applications needing medium amounts of power that have been underserved by existing solar-only and wind-only power sources.
The success of the Renewables for Subsea Power project not only validates the viability of hybrid ocean energy systems but also sets the stage for broader adoption across oil and gas, CCS and the wider blue economy, including shipping and aquaculture.
Transforming the offshore energy landscape
The energy landscape is evolving, and the sector needs trailblazing technologies to lead the charge. Addressing the challenges of subsea power with innovative, renewable solutions are also transforming how the offshore industry operates. As the adoption of these technologies grows, the possibilities for reducing environmental impact and operational costs become limitless.
