CNOOC Petroleum Europe has withdrawn plans to electrify its Buzzard oil platform in the UK North Sea using power from the Green Volt floating offshore wind project, citing economic challenges.
The company, a subsidiary of China’s CNOOC, had been exploring the use of electricity from the 560-megawatt Green Volt development, led by Flotation Energy and Vargronn, as part of efforts to decarbonise operations in line with UK emissions targets. However, after several years of consideration, it has decided not to move forward.
“CNOOC Petroleum Europe confirms that after thorough technical and economic review of options to electrify the Buzzard platform, we have been unable to find an investible solution in the current economic climate,” a company spokesperson told industry publication reNEWS.
The Buzzard platform had been a primary target for Green Volt since initial project scoping began in 2021. The wind farm is part of the Crown Estate Scotland’s INTOG (Innovation and Targeted Oil & Gas) leasing round and is expected to include 35 floating turbines. It received planning consent in April 2024 and secured a 400MW contract through the UK government’s Allocation Round 6 last year. The developers aim to begin operations in 2029.
Despite the setback, Flotation Energy and Vargronn said they continue to engage with several oil and gas operators in the region in pursuit of offtake agreements required under their lease terms.
“Green Volt is on track to be developed as the largest commercial-scale, floating offshore wind farm in the world, providing clean power to thousands of homes across the UK,” a project spokesperson said. “We remain in active, commercial discussions with potential partners regarding the electrification of their platforms.”
CNOOC stated it remains committed to the UK’s North Sea Transition Deal, which aims to halve emissions from oil and gas production in the region by 2030.
“We are actively pursuing justifiable options to decarbonise the platform and remain committed to delivering on the North Sea Transition Deal emissions reduction targets,” the company spokesperson added.
The decision highlights the economic pressures facing North Sea operators amid evolving regulatory and climate expectations.
