Development of sustainable pathways to integrate offshore wind with emerging and existing offshore technologies and infrastructure in the UK

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Offshore wind provides a near limitless potential of renewable energy yet currentlysupplies only 0.3% global power generation [1]. With the largest installed capacity ofoffshore wind in the world, the United Kingdom leads the sector and have committedto the significant increase of installed capacity from 30GW to 40GW by 2030 [2]. Tofacilitate this rapid acceleration of growth within the sector it is essential that thepotential capacity is harnessed in a timely and considerate manner. Traditionally, theprimary route to market is as an independent source of electricity (inc. fixed bottomwind turbines). However, an emerging route, offshore wind as supplementary energysource to a primary technology (inc. wind turbines powering oil platforms) offers analternative opportunity for the integration of offshore wind into the rapidly diversifyingoffshore energy sector.This opportunity is recognised by Oil and Gas Authority who seek to harmonise theoffshore energy sector through cooperation with Crown Estate and Crown EstateScotland. To this aim, the aforementioned authorities have developed a newinteractive map of the North Sea unifying offshore wind locations with wave and tidalsites as well as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and Petroleum licenses [3].Growing synergies and transparency with the oil and gas sector will aid emergingoffshore wind technologies when leveraging existing offshore infrastructure whilstpotentially delaying decommissioning (through the repurposing of platforms,pipelines and ports). As 5% of well-head production is consumed by oil and gasplatforms globally, producing 200 million tonnes of CO2 annually, emissions mayalso be reduced [4]. The collaboration of offshore wind with othertechnologies/sectors is not limited to oil and gas. In conjunction with green hydrogenand CCS, offshore wind can be used to abate the emissions of historicallychallenging sectors such as heating, transport and industry by providing a clean fuelsource [5,6]. The success of potential synergies would hinge on the socio-technicalfeasibility of the projects. As means of measurement, the UNFC pillars of socioeconomic and environmental viability; technical readiness; and confidence inestimates offer a comprehensive reporting method [7]. Given the contemporarynature of potential synergies, assessment of the technical feasibility is paramount.By decompartmentalising offshore wind, explicit technology dependant targets canbe set ensuring tangible progress of current and pipeline projects. This is achievedby: (1) critically analysing barriers of deployment, categorised as per the UNFCpillars, and mitigating solutions, (2) quantifying the potential installed capacity/impactof offshore wind technological collaborations (namely oil and gas, CCS and greenhydrogen), and (3) projecting the growth of offshore wind in the UK as per differingtechnological deployment pathways. Through industry engagement, the anticipatedconclusion of this research is a series of projections incorporating a considerateblend of deployment strategies. This contribution to the limited existing literature willaid policy makers, companies and financiers with deployment strategies both in theUnited Kingdom and worldwide. With an abundance of natural resources, rapidlydecreasing levelized costs of energy, and early mover advantage, offshore wind willbe a vital component in the UK's energy mix in the coming decade provided clear,defined pathways to deployment are established.