Energy giant Shell has announced its participation in the Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) collaborative project, an initiative which is currently harnessing wave power and subsea energy storage to power equipment off the coast of Orkney.
The £2 million demonstrator project, which has been operational for nearly 12 months, boasts a combination of the Blue X wave energy converter, developed by Mocean Energy in Edinburgh, and the Halo underwater battery storage system, crafted by Verlume in Aberdeen. Situated 5km east of Orkney Mainland, the project aims to showcase how these green technologies can deliver reliable, low-carbon power and communications to subsea equipment, offering a viable alternative to carbon-intensive umbilical cables with lengthy procurement and installation processes.
Shell's investment in the project is facilitated through its Shell Technology – Marine Renewable Program, a global research and development initiative dedicated to advancing marine renewable energy technologies to foster sustainable growth in the Blue Economy.
Joining forces with Mocean Energy and Verlume, Shell will collaborate with other industry leaders including Baker Hughes, Serica Energy, Harbour Energy, Transmark Subsea, PTTEP, TotalEnergies, and the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) in advancing the project's objectives.
“This new investment by Shell underscores the international interest in our pan-industry project and we look forward to working with them and exploring potential new applications for RSP’s combined technologies,” commented Ian Crossland, Commercial Director at Mocean Energy.
“With the Renewables for Subsea Power project being operational now for 10 months, I am proud of what has been achieved both technically and commercially to date, alongside the calibre of the industry partners that are involved,” added Andy Martin, Chief Commercial Officer at Verlume. “It is great that Shell is now joining the project, a company that we have been working with for some time. I am looking forward to continuing our close working relationship.”
Graeme Rogerson, Head of Net Zero Technology at NZTC, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Renewables for Subsea Power project go from strength to strength, having supported the project since 2019.
“Mocean Energy’s Blue X wave energy converter and Verlume’s Halo underwater battery storage system have demonstrated their effectiveness in delivering low carbon power and communication to offshore subsea infrastructure. Shell’s investment and the opportunity to continue to test in a real-world environment will help to further progress the technologies.”
The Orkney deployment marks the third phase of the RSP project, following successful onshore testing in Aberdeen and rigorous at-sea testing at the European Marine Energy Centre's Scapa Flow test site.
In 2021, Mocean Energy’s Blue X prototype underwent a programme of rigorous at-sea testing at the European Marine Energy Centre’s Scapa Flow test site in Orkney, where it generated first power and gathered key data on machine performance and operation.
Verlume’s seabed battery energy storage system, Halo, has been specifically designed for the harsh underwater environment, reducing operational emissions and facilitating the use of renewable energy by providing a reliable, uninterrupted power supply. Halo’s fundamental basis is its intelligent energy management system, Axonn, a fully integrated system which autonomously maximises available battery capacity in real time.
