(MTR) This week, dozens of companies are expected to compete for the right to lease the first commercial wind power sites off the coast of California in a federal online auction that could kick-start the state’s next clean energy boom. Collectively, the winners will pay at least tens of millions of dollars for exclusive rights to submit... Continue Reading →
Full-scale 5-MW floating “pyramid” wind turbine will be put to the test
(RN) Floating wind turbines are crucial to the future of offshore wind, and to bring energy costs down to a competitive level, they require radically different thinking. French company Eolink is starting to build a full-scale demonstrator of its innovative pyramid-shaped floating wind turbine, which reduces materials and weight by more than 30%, and promises... Continue Reading →
Stranded Newbuild Drillships Soon to be History
(OE) Hans Jacob Bassoe, Contributor The recovering deepwater drilling market has encouraged drilling contractors to expand their fleet, and companies are now starting to purchase stranded assets in shipyards. A joint venture that includes Transocean recently announced the purchase of the stranded 7th Generation drillship West Aquila, while Stena Drilling still has its option to acquire... Continue Reading →
BP doubles down on hydrogen as fuel of the future
(Reuters) - BP chief executive Bernard Looney is betting on hydrogen to power future low-carbon businesses as the governments of major economies stump up cash to develop the fuel to decarbonise. Low-carbon hydrogen already has a big fan-base and is forecast to play a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industries and... Continue Reading →
Gasunie to Oversee Build of Dutch North Sea Hydrogen Network
(OE) The Dutch government on Friday said it would appoint gas grid operator Gasunie to oversee plans to develop a hydrogen network in the North Sea, Energy Minister Rob Jetten said in a letter to parliament. The Dutch government is due on Dec. 8 to debate in parliament over ambitious plans to shift much of... Continue Reading →
First Turbine Installed at Arcadis Ost 1 Wind Farm Using “Unique” Floating Installation Method
Heerema Marine Contractors has recently installed the first of 27 Vestas V174 – 9.5MW turbines at the Arcadis Ost 1 offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea, offshore Germany, using a floating installation method, for which the parties involved say is unique. Namely, the turbine was installed using Heerema's Thialf semi-submersible crane vessel instead of... Continue Reading →
Seadrill positive on offshore drilling outlook
(OM) Seadrill has issued an update on is global offshore rig fleet. The benign environment semisub has started a program for Talos Production in the US Gulf of Mexico. West Tellus and the reactivated West Jupiter are both preparing to start contracts for Petrobras offshore Brazil. In the Norwegian sector, the harsh environment semisubs West Elara and West Phoenix are working respectively for... Continue Reading →
Siemens Gamesa Loses UK Patent Dispute over GE Offshore Wind Turbines
(Reuters) General Electric Co has fended off a patent lawsuit over its Haliade-X turbines brought by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S in a London court. Judge Richard Meade of London's High Court on Wednesday said Siemens, which had sued GE claiming that the Haliade-X infringed its European patent related to the use of bearings in... Continue Reading →
UK: ORE Catapult, NZTC Team Up to Help Power Oil & Gas Platforms with Floating Wind
(OE) The UK-based Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and the Net Zero Technology Centre said Thursday they'd examine potential pathways for the delivery of innovative floating offshore wind technology integrated with existing energy infrastructure, as part of their five year collaboration under the Energy Transition Alliance banner. According to the partners, the WINTOG program will... Continue Reading →
Fugro Expands Geotechnical Vessel Fleet
Dutch offshore survey company Fugro has expanded its geotechnical vessel fleet with the Fugro Quest vessel. According to Fugro, the vessel is equipped with advanced deep-water technology. "Fugro uses this type of vessel to determine the exact composition of the soil; the resulting data are essential to establish the optimal location and design of offshore... Continue Reading →