OSLO, Norway, Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Offshore Wind
has outlined plans to utilise Scotland's first offshore wind underwater
substation as part of its bids for major offshore windfarms.
The multi-million subsea innovation would be developed,
manufactured, and supplied in Scotland by Aker Solutions and provide major
export opportunities for Scottish businesses.
Substations – which help move the energy created by wind
turbines into homes and businesses – are traditionally installed
above sea level but moving them down to the seabed brings several
reliability and cost benefits. For example, the seawater can
be used as a natural cooling
system, while reliability is increased through
stable temperatures, fewer components and no rotating parts. In
addition, operational costs can decrease by less
maintenance and reduced material use.
The project would be delivered as a part of the ScotWind
licensing process, for which Aker Offshore Wind has teamed up with
Ocean Winds to submit a series of floating bids which could deliver
up to 6,000MW of energy in the Outer Moray Firth. It would be
by far the UK's biggest wind energy development and power millions
of homes with renewable energy.
Aker Offshore Wind's heritage and experience working in the
North Sea with subsea technology means it would create jobs,
economic opportunity and deliver major environmental benefits. Aker
Solutions, a sister company of Aker Offshore Wind and a key
supplier to UK wind projects, is a frontrunner in developing subsea
substations and related power system designs. The company would
support the delivery of substations from its Aberdeen facilities.
The ScotWind bids for floating offshore turbines allow green
energy to be delivered at scale, in deep waters and many miles off
coast. The joint bids from Aker Offshore Wind and Ocean Winds
will also help Scotland's economy
to transition to renewable energy.
The Aker group of companies, of which Aker Offshore Wind is a
part, has supported the energy industry in the UK for over
five decades and has been instrumental in the design and deployment
of more than half of all semi-submersible offshore installations
globally. In taking offshore wind to deeper waters, Aker
Offshore Wind is using its expertise to reduce costs of generating
electricity in the harsh seas and rough weather conditions off
the UK, contributing to net zero and security of supply.
Floating offshore wind is the latest advent in renewable energy
technology. Around 80 per cent of the world's wind resources
are in waters deeper than 60 metres and are unsuitable for fixed
foundations.
"This is a world-leading innovation that would be developed,
manufactured and supplied in Scotland," says Sian
Lloyd-Rees, managing director of Aker Offshore Wind UK.
"Both the Aker group and Ocean Winds have the necessary heritage
and experience to deliver this at scale. We know the benefit is
there – it will revolutionise how energy is produced and present
Scotland with the opportunity to
export genuinely innovative technology to the rest of the
world.
"This technology would be supported by tens of millions of
investment and work would start next year. It's a proven technology
that we are now using to ramp up the role of renewables in
Scotland. Our vision is for the UK to become a global leader
in floating offshore wind, contributing to our net zero mission
with green energy at scale. Through innovation, we have the
opportunity to implement new technology in the ScotWind
leasing round, making Scotland and the UK a global leader in
subsea solutions for floating offshore wind and exporting the
technology around the world."
"Ocean Winds has worked at the cutting edge of technological
innovation to deliver world-leading reductions in the cost of
offshore wind energy generation at our Moray East project with
innovations from foundation construction to turbine
interconnection," said Dan Finch,
managing director of Ocean Winds UK. "The development of subsea
substations is another major step forward in terms of using world
leading energy technology from our partners, Aker. It will enable
construction of windfarms in areas of the seabed which are too deep
for fixed substation foundations, therefore facilitating access to
cost-effective sites worldwide, even in very deep waters.
"By including this proposal in our Scotwind bid, we can position
Scotland at the front of the
world's offshore wind market, with a new, innovative technology,
offering the economic opportunities associated with a new product
with global demand prospects.
"Our two groups bring together considerable experience of
working in the North Sea environment and delivering and operating
offshore wind generation, giving us an unrivalled heritage from
which to deliver innovation such as this at commercial scale."
CONTACT:
For further information, please contact:
Maria Lanza Knudsen, media
contact, +47 48 44 24 26, maria.knudsen@akeroffshorewind.com
Christian Yggeseth, investor contact, +47 915 10 000,
christian.yggeseth@akerhorizons.com
This information was brought to you by Cision
http://news.cision.com
https://news.cision.com/aker-offshore-wind-as/r/aker-offshore-wind-unveils-underwater-innovation-for-floating-offshore-wind,c3428674
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