In focus: 2022 begins with renewables

After the holidays and well-deserved break, the energy transition community returns to its activities dedicated to making the world a less polluted and more healthy home. In this first week of 2022, the industry consolidates its commitment to net-zero and clean energy goals, and renewables are in the spotlight.

The fast-developing offshore wind sector is expected to see a year full of milestones and achievements. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that we will be ending 2022 with offshore wind additions reaching 11 GW, almost double compared to last year, with China driving the expansion.

According to IEA, cumulative offshore wind capacity is anticipated to more than triple by 2026, reaching the amazing 120 GW in its main case and 134 GW in the accelerated case.

Large-scale projects are expected to be commissioned beyond the already established markets with a boost to the global installed capacity set to come from France, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and the United States.

This positive offshore wind forecast is joined by marine energy as DNV claims that wave energy and tidal energy are currently the most promising technologies to harness the power of the North Sea.

DNV’s most recent paper writes that if co-located with offshore wind farms, marine energy technologies can enable a more efficient use of transmission capacity and multifunctional use of space at sea.

The potential for tidal and wave energy could be even larger if considering other infrastructures like oil and gas platforms and coastal defense works.

“Including marine energy more explicitly in national subsidy schemes could be a way to support and accelerate its commercial development and to reduce the risk of investments,” the paper states.

We have been seeing carbon capture and storage a lot lately and this first week of 2022 is no exception. Neptune Energy has revealed its new digital twins of two platforms in the Dutch North Sea to help in its drive to repurpose existing facilities for a CO2 capture and storage project.

The oil and gas company said the digital twins will accelerate work schedules and reduce costs and environmental impacts by enabling engineers to work onshore as well as support the planning of its major carbon capture and storage project in the L10 area.

“These two new additions will allow us to maximize those benefits while also expanding the use of ‘digital twins’ beyond our traditional E&P activities. We believe their implementation can help accelerate our drive to repurpose existing facilities to deliver large-scale CCS facilities,” said Neptune Energy’s chief information officer, Kaveh Pourteymour.

News on clean hydrogen comes from Down Under as the Australian government wants to grow the country’s clean H2 export industry and has thus set a new initiative aimed at attracting overseas investment into hydrogen supply chains originating in Australia.

On 6 January, it was announced that the first round of the Australian Clean Hydrogen Trade Program (ACHTP) will focus on the export of clean hydrogen to Japan.

When talking about clean fuels and environmentally friendly shipping, it is worth mentioning the Dutch maritime engineering company Conoship International Projects which has developed an eco-friendly diesel-electric propulsed 3600 dwt general cargo vessel, suited for sea-river operations.

The vessel will be economical in terms of fuel consumption with its diesel-electric propulsion system and enlarged propeller in combination with a ConoDuctTail and optimized hull lines, especially in wind and waves.

Its performance will be enhanced with the design ready for wind-assisted propulsion, as it is prepared for the placement of two Econowind VentiFoils, which would reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by approximately 10%, depending on the sailing route.

Similarly, Mike Hooks’ new 27” cutter suction dredger (CSD), which will feature two powerful and robust 6DL36 generator sets, will be equipped with an SCR system and, as the company states, will meet the highest emission requirements of EPA.

The CSD, to be commissioned in the course of 2022, will be used for dredging rivers and waterways.

A small environmental victory comes from the fossil energy sector with Shell having decided to terminate the contract for survey vessel Amazon Warrior after it had to halt its seismic survey activities along South Africa’s Wild Coast following a court decision.

Namely, the survey has been facing strong opposition from environmentalists and fishermen who claim that it would harm marine life, especially since it would take place during the migration season for humpback whales.

Despite the survey being approved by another South African court at the beginning of December, the Grahamstown High Court in Makhanda ordered the oil major to halt the activities just shortly before the New Year, stating that it “had failed to consult with the communities and individuals who would be impacted by the seismic survey.”

Although Shell’s move to terminate the contract does not at all imply that the activities are not to take place, it does give a glimpse of hope that the global community is becoming more aware of the importance of achieving a greener future.