Oil and gas leader Shell has entered the Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) collaborative project with a substantial £2 million investment. The initiative, which has been operational for nearly 12 months, is utilizing wave power and subsea energy storage to provide sustainable energy to subsea equipment off the coast of Orkney.
The project, located 5km east of the Orkney Mainland, connects the Blue X wave energy converter from Mocean Energy with the Halo underwater battery storage system developed by Verlume. The collaboration aims to showcase the reliability and cost-effectiveness of combining green technologies for low carbon power and communication solutions, presenting an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional umbilical cables.
Shell's investment in the project is facilitated through the Shell Technology – Marine Renewable Program, a global research and development group committed to advancing marine renewable energy technologies to achieve lower emissions and support the growth of the Blue Economy.
Ian Crossland, Commercial Director at Mocean Energy, expressed optimism about Shell's involvement, stating, “This new investment by Shell underscores the international interest in our pan-industry project, and we look forward to working with them and exploring potential new applications for RSP's combined technologies.”
Andy Martin, Chief Commercial Officer at Verlume, commended both technical and commercial achievements over the project's 10-month operational period, stating, “It is great that Shell is now joining the project, a company that we have been working with for some time. I am looking forward to continuing our close working relationship.”
Graeme Rogerson, Head of Net Zero Technology at the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), praised the project's progress since 2019, acknowledging the effectiveness of Mocean Energy's Blue X wave energy converter and Verlume's Halo underwater battery storage system. Rogerson emphasized the positive impact of Shell's investment, stating, “Shell's investment and the opportunity to continue to test in a real-world environment will help to further progress the technologies.”
The Renewables for Subsea Power project, enriched by Shell's support, stands as a collaborative effort to advance sustainable solutions for subsea energy requirements, demonstrating the potential of innovative technologies in reducing carbon emissions.
