Offshore wind developer Cerulean Winds has unveiled £20 billion plans for a clean energy power grid in the North Sea.
As many as 10,000 jobs are expected to be created as a result of the integrated green power and transmission system, first power from which is slated for 2028.
Oil and gas platforms will plug into it for energy generated by offshore wind farms.
Hailed as a major step on the route to net-zero oil and gas production, the North Sea Renewables Grid (NSRG) is among the UK’s largest infrastructure investment projects.
The bulk of the new jobs will come in the construction phases, while some will be involved in ongoing maintenance of the project.
Most of the new roles are expected t be based in Scotland.
Local content to deliver NSRG
Crucially, London-based Cerulean plans to maximise the use of local content.
It aims to build foundations for scores of floating turbines in the UK and discussions with the supply chain have already taken place.
The firm also hopes to deliver its project before delivery of the offshore wind projects secured by the ScotWind leasing round.
This could help Scottish supply chain companies get ready for future renewables work.
NSRG will be comprised of three 130sq mile sites, each containing hundreds of floating wind turbines producing multiple gigawatts of green energy.
Once operational, oil and gas platforms will be able to hook into the system, giving them access to the clean power needed to hit the North Sea Transition Deal goal of a net-zero oil and gas region by 2050.
Cerulean founding director Dan Jackson said: “The oil and gas sector is wrestling with the challenges of meeting the North Sea Transition Deal emissions reduction targets, whilst supporting UK energy security.
“We recognise that to achieve meaningful reductions at the pace required, a reliable basin-wide approach is needed that they can plug into when they are ready to for affordable power.
“Early oil and gas electrification supports the country’s energy security and net-zero action, and delivers huge benefits to the supply chain and economy, creating 10,000 jobs.
“With our partners we will accelerate access to green power and provide the infrastructure for the next phase of the North Sea’s life.”
Intog bearing fruit
Cerulean’s plans come just weeks after the results of the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (Intog) offshore wind leasing round were announced.
Led by Crown Estate Scotland the process attracted bids from 19 companies and raised £261 million.
Cerulean, alongside partner Frontier Power International, bagged the lion’s share of the Intog seabed leases, while there were also successes for Harbour Energy, TotalEnergies and Flotation Energy.
Net-zero barrels of North Sea oil
It is understood that as part of the bid process, Cerulean secured several letters of intent from North Sea operators.
Now the work starts in earnest to get oil and gas firms locked in, with plans to offer flexible, standardised power purchase agreements.
Operators would be able to plug their platforms into the renewables grid as and when they are ready.
In doing so they will be able to remove millions of tonnes of production emissions by trading gas and diesel generation for clean power.
Cerulean has drafted in a number of heavy hitters to help deliver NSRG, including NOV, Siemens Gamesa, Siemens Energy, DEME and Worley.
It will make a material impact on Scotland’s emissions, removing millions of tonnes of CO2 a year to support a just transition.”
Mr Jackson added: “We are targeting a build out before ScotWind developments, allowing the supply chain to respond, creating crucial partnering opportunities for the ports and getting the market ready to deliver floating wind at scale.
“It will make a material impact on Scotland’s emissions, removing millions of tonnes of CO2 a year to support a just transition.
“Work with end users has begun in earnest so that we can aim for first power availability in 2028.”
Conversation