Sept. 23 (TN) Porto do Açu and operator Perenco Brasil signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the development of the first offshore platform electrification project in the Campos Basin.
The agreement entails supplying power from shore to Perenco’s units at the Pargo and Cherne Hubs—located in shallow waters—via an 80-kilometer subsea cable connected to an onshore substation at Porto do Açu in São João da Barra (Rio de Janeiro state).
The port complex will provide a site for the construction of the onshore substation connecting Perenco to the main power grid, as well as the right-of-way for the cable running from the substation to the offshore hubs.
The primary objective is to reduce Scope 1 carbon emissions from Perenco’s operations in the country. Currently, the company’s platforms at the Pargo and Cherne Hubs rely on power generated locally by turbogenerators.
“The partnership with Perenco demonstrates Porto do Açu’s role as a catalyst for low-carbon solutions within the oil and gas sector. Offshore electrification projects of this scale remain rare globally and pave a promising way forward for the Brazilian market,” notes Eugenio Figueiredo, CEO of Porto do Açu.
The project’s initial power consumption is estimated at 35 MW, with the potential to expand to 60 MW within four years. The system is expected to become operational by the first quarter of 2028, and Perenco may also contract renewable energy in the future within the free energy market. “The electrification project combines Perenco’s innovative spirit with the entrepreneurial drive of Porto do Açu. For the oil and gas sector, it will serve as a benchmark for initiatives aimed at energy security by extending the productive life of assets while reducing emission levels,” highlights Damien Szyszka, General Manager of Perenco Brazil.
Perenco will build a substation at the port complex to receive power from the grid. A subsea cable will connect to the central platform of the Pargo Hub, which will redistribute the electricity to the operator’s other units via an existing interconnection network.
This offshore electrification project complements other initiatives at the Açu port complex involving the supply of clean energy for maritime operations. Since 2024, Vast Infraestrutura, in partnership with Wilson Sons, has been providing shore power to tugboats and support vessels docked at Porto do Açu’s Terminal 1 (T1).
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