SIEMENS ENERGY VIEWPOINT: Ramping up wind power and unleashing North Sea potential
11/07/2022 Siemens plc
The North Sea: Ushering in a new dawn for energy transformation
By Steve Scrimshaw, VP at Siemens Energy UK & Ireland
The North Sea is set to become Europe’s largest climate-neutral energy system by 2050 and at Siemens Energy we’re determined to make waves and turn that potential into reality.
The region is in pole position to play a globally leading role in the energy transformation. For decades, the North Sea has had a key role in supplying energy to Europe through its oil and gas fields. Now it can help us deliver net zero, by modernising existing assets, becoming a test bed for new technology and by enabling a new level of energy connectivity between European countries.
We cannot do it alone. No one company or organisation can. We believe in collaboration between countries, governments, partners, customers, and supply chains to make sure the North Sea energy potential becomes a reality. The actions of just a few will not be sufficient to avoid climate change. We have a long journey to decarbonisation ahead, but the United Nation’s recent IPCC reports on climate change highlight the time to act is now.
Steve Scrimshaw explains more:
The North Sea has significant potential and particular geological characteristics that we can exploit in our drive to clean up energy. Shallow waters and raging winds make it one of the best locations for offshore wind, and the geology that kept natural gas in place for millions of years is the perfect place to bury carbon dioxide.
There are, of course, challenges. The windiness of the North Sea means it has some of the harshest weather. Seabed conditions and tides create difficult infrastructure issues meaning energy systems need a robust and sophisticated operation.
However, the potential is enormous. Overcoming these obstacles could see the North Sea become a beacon for change, showcasing how to deliver complex energy transition technology in difficult conditions.
The energy transformation in the North Sea demands scale and coordination. If an interconnected, low-carbon energy system can be developed in the North Sea, then technically it can be delivered anywhere. If we get it right, it will attract new industries, secure jobs, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and help ensure a better world for our children. It also offers a huge opportunity for growth and energy security.
While recent events mean decarbonisation is not the only driver. The tumultuous geopolitical situation with the war in Ukraine has left many countries seeking increased energy independence. The North Sea is critical to enabling this independence by reducing reliance on Russian oil and gas.
A sea of possibilities for ramping up wind power
Since the early 2000s offshore wind has grown at an increasing rate. The cost of offshore wind has reduced faster than expected and can now feasibly and affordably become the backbone of clean energy production for the future.
Already Siemens Energy has connected about 4000MW of offshore wind to the UK grid. That is enough clean energy to power 4 million homes, and around 35% of the UK's current offshore wind production. But we need to do a lot more to meet the UK target to deliver up to 50GW of operating offshore wind capacity by 2030, increasing current capacity by two-thirds. For Europe, to reach climate neutrality by 2050, offshore wind needs to grow from today’s 29GW capacity to well over 300GW.
Green hydrogen, created by wind power, will play a vital role in the long-term energy storage of the future. There is much wind potential in the North Sea, but we also need to have the technology to store it, transport it, and use hydrogen and its derivatives for things like shipping and aviation that are hard to electrify.
Charting a course for maximum efficiency and low emissions
Building renewable infrastructure and a hydrogen economy takes time. Planning, consent and viable operating models require investment of both time and capital.
We need to continue to use some fossil fuels in this interim period, so it is vital we minimise emissions from production. These days, most offshore platforms use fossil fuelled gas turbines to provide power and drive compressors that pump our energy ashore. Much of this technology was engineered when there was little or no focus on clean, efficient production. However, we can make immediate changes today that can reduce emissions significantly.
But we must not stop there. The UK’s North Sea Transition Deal sets a target to reduce 25% of offshore production emissions by 2025 and achieve net zero by 2050.
While the target is and must be uncompromisingly net zero, we cannot switch off fossil fuels overnight. The UK today still relies on about 40% natural gas for a secure electricity supply. But we can still take action now, such as replacing gas turbines with electric alternatives. This is where offshore wind and oil and gas industries can collaborate and combine their expertise to electrify offshore platforms, as we are doing with the Hywind Tampen project in Norway.
Navigating through storage technologies and connecting networks
The natural gas we bring ashore can also be cleaned up through carbon capture and storage technologies. Heavy industry in ports, like Rotterdam in Netherlands and Teesside in the UK, have plans for shared networks to transport and store captured carbon dioxide so it never reaches the atmosphere and can’t add to the greenhouse effect. Existing oil and gas infrastructure is also being repurposed for carbon capture.
Networks will increasingly save costs and bring greater resilience, as the number of interconnectors between countries grows. We will see the rise of multi-purpose interconnectors where the same assets are shared by wind farms, platforms and national power networks. There are even plans for man-made energy islands to act as hubs in the sea. Some will have electrolysers to make clean hydrogen from seawater.
The pace of change demands skills and collaboration
The good news is that history shows fast transitions can happen, even in capital-intensive industries like energy. Across Europe we can see examples where parts of the economy are already rapidly decarbonising, In the UK most spectacularly we can see this with electricity. Ten years ago, coal provided 45% of its electricity. Now it is less than 2%, with the last coal-fired power stations set to close in less than two years. The electricity industry, once the biggest carbon-emitting sector, has now been overtaken by transport as the biggest polluter, thanks to reductions made through gas and wind.
Strategic sector coupling and low-carbon energy developments will enable and accelerate the energy transition. To do this we need a mix of skills and experience from different backgrounds. The people and companies who succeed in the North Sea will do so through closer collaboration and partnerships. The North Sea Transition Deal for example sets out ambitious plans for how the UK Government will work with industry to decarbonize. This includes support for up to 40,000 direct and indirect supply chain jobs.
The region can be as important for our clean energy future as it was for the era of fossil fuels, but we cannot afford to leave it another moment. At Siemens Energy, we have the know-how and mindset alongside a technology portfolio that supports the entire energy value chain. We have an obligation to lead in new and emerging energy technologies such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and the creation of a hydrogen economy to support the continued growth of sectors such as offshore wind.
The North Sea is a megaproject that involves many countries, industries, companies, and people. It will also require clever technology and innovative solutions. Ambitions to decarbonise the North Sea into a climate neutral energy system by 2050 demand new ways of thinking. We recognise the energy transition to net-zero isn’t going to be solved by one technology or one company alone. This is a global challenge, and the time to innovate and work together to find solutions is now.
Print this articleFor more information, please contact:
Danielle Turton
Siemens Energy
Tel:07808827577
Email: danielle.turton@siemens-energy.com
Web: https://www.siemens-energy.com
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