Combining PowerPod with a float and support structure enables co-location of wave energy generation with offshore wind.
Reducing Reliance on Offshore Diesel Generation
PowerPod reduces reliance on offshore diesel generation for wind farm developers and operators. Single PowerPods provide preliminary, maintenance and emergency power for offshore wind turbines. Generating electricity from the waves reduces the need for offshore diesel generation which has high re-fuelling costs. Diesel re-fuelling costs are set to increase as global fuel prices rise and projects move further offshore. PowerPod sits alongside diesel generators, reducing operating costs and minimising risks to customers.
Integrating Wave Energy with Offshore Wind
Multiple PowerPods sharing offshore wind infrastructure maximise grid export electricity generation for a given sea area. PowerPods can be integrated into the design of next-generation offshore wind foundations. Integration reduces capital costs by sharing offshore infrastructure such as foundations, cabling and grid connection. Co-locating wave energy generation with offshore wind reduces the intermittency of the output power from the combined wind-wave farm.
PowerPod provides long term, sustainable cost reduction as offshore wind development moves into deeper waters, further offshore. The increased revenue from the more energetic wave climates of these sites counteracts the additional costs of installing and operating in more challenging waters.
Reducing Reliance on Offshore Diesel Generation
PowerPod is combined with a float and support structure to provide clean, autonomous power to offshore oil and gas structures. Such structures include Normally Unmanned Installations (NUIs) and Minimal Facility Platforms (MFPs) which are typically used to access smaller and more remote oil and gas reservoirs.
PowerPod reduces reliance upon diesel generation. It is ideally suited to applications where the main costs are incurred by re-fuelling diesel generators rather than the purchase or hire costs of the diesel generators themselves. This is because waves, although more consistent than the wind, are intermittent and hence there will be periods where diesel generation is still required. The cost and emissions savings come from reducing the amount of fuel used, rather than replacing the diesel generator. Alternatively, PowerPod can be coupled with battery storage to fully replace the diesel generator.
PowerPod can be configured to supply power in the kWs to MW range. A modular design enables PowerPod’s exact specification to be optimised for the power level required and the wave climate of the site.