Shell Joins TotalEnergies and PTTEP in Wave Power Venture for Subsea Equipment Project

Energy giant Shell has recently become a part of the Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) collaborative initiative, which is revolutionizing the powering of subsea equipment off the shores of Orkney, Scotland, using a unique combination of wave power and subsea energy storage systems. This groundbreaking £2 million demonstrator project, which has been operational for nearly 12 months, has successfully linked Mocean Energy's Blue X wave energy converter with Verlume's Halo underwater battery storage system.

Positioned 5 kilometers east of Orkney Mainland, this fully functional project aims to showcase the seamless integration of green technologies, offering reliable low-carbon power and communication solutions to subsea equipment. By doing so, it presents a cost-effective alternative to traditional umbilical cables.

Andy Martin, Chief Commercial Officer at Verlume, expressed pride in the accomplishments achieved both technically and commercially over the past 10 months with the operationalization of the Renewables for Subsea Power project. He also commended the caliber of industry partners involved in the endeavor. Martin welcomed Shell's participation in the project, emphasizing the fruitful collaboration that has been ongoing and expressing anticipation for further collaboration in the future.

Shell's involvement in this innovative endeavor stems from its participation in the Shell Technology – Marine Renewable Program, a global research and development initiative dedicated to exploring, evaluating, and advancing marine renewable energy technologies. The primary objective of this program is to enhance value while minimizing emissions, thereby contributing to the establishment of essential energy infrastructure crucial for the growth and prosperity of the Blue Economy.

By joining forces with the RSP project, Shell gains access to comprehensive data and insights derived from the ongoing test program. Additionally, it facilitates a feasibility assessment of deploying RSP technology in locations of Shell's choosing. Notably, the Orkney deployment marks the third phase of the RSP project's evolution. In the year 2021, the consortium allocated £1.6 million towards phase two, which primarily centered on the integration of essential technologies within an onshore testing setup situated at Verlume's operational hub in Aberdeen.

Mocean Energy's Blue X prototype underwent extensive at-sea testing in 2021 at the European Marine Energy Centre's (EMEC) Scapa Flow test site in Orkney. During this phase, the prototype successfully generated initial power, while also gathering crucial data on its performance and operational efficiency.

Shell now stands alongside project leaders Mocean Energy and Verlume, as well as industry stalwarts like Baker Hughes, Serica Energy, Harbour Energy, Transmark Subsea, PTTEP, TotalEnergies, and the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), in driving forward this transformative project.