Unlocking the UK continental shelf electrification potential for offshore oil and gas installations: a power grid architecture perspective

Mohamed Elgenedy*, Khaled Ahmed, Graeme Burt, Graeme Rogerson, Greg Jones

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
150 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Most of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) oil and gas (OG) installations have traditionally adopted in situ power generation, which is not only inefficient but also generating about 70% of the offshore CO2 emissions. The offshore wind and energy storage technologies for deep water are developing at a fast pace, enabling great opportunities for the OG installations located in the North Sea. In this paper, a pathway for the UKCS offshore OG installations electrification is introduced. The aim is to provide different power architectures that facilitate the OG installations’ electrification, while benefiting from the existing and planned UK offshore wind power. Four hypothetical case studies (based on real data) were created, along the UKCS, where the corresponding power architectures were proposed. The selection of each architecture power component (e.g., transformers, converters and cables), as well as the transmission and distribution technology (e.g., AC or DC), is also provided and justified. Further, an overview cost estimation is carried out to predict the architecture capital cost. It is concluded that the four architectures can be mimicked not only along the UKCS but also worldwide, promoting the UKCS potential for a world-leading offshore energy hub and fostering the UK offshore wind-energy resources.
Original languageEnglish
Article number7096
Number of pages18
JournalEnergies
Volume14
Issue number21
Early online date30 Oct 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2021

Keywords

  • CapEx
  • CO2 emissions
  • HVDC
  • net-zero
  • offshore
  • oil and gas
  • UKCS
  • wind energy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Control and Optimization
  • Energy (miscellaneous)
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Fuel Technology
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Building and Construction

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