How an Autonomous Offshore Power System Can Transform the Ocean Economy - A Hypothetical Case Study Utilizing an Autonomous Offshore Power System in Northern Lights Carbon Capture and Storage Project

Abstract

Abstract An Autonomous Offshore Power System (AOPS) provides in-situ power, energy storage, real-time data and communications support, asset management, and other capabilities at sea. It has applications for all offshore industries: energy, defense and security, aquaculture, science and research, and communications. This paper highlights how an AOPS can reduce cost, complexity, and carbon-intensity for existing offshore operations and enable new capabilities for offshore industry leaders. This new AOPS technology has two primary advantages. First, it unlocks the autonomous, electric future of the ocean economy via ‘local’ power generation and energy storage, in addition to real-time connection to the data cloud. Second, it helps enable a material change in the global energy mix through cost-effective, reliable generation and storage technology for use cases including mobile/static data-gathering and reporting systems, operating equipment, and charging networks for uncrewed surface vessels. AOPS technology will help transform the ocean economy, and thus has implications for offshore industry leaders as they push to reduce costs today and make an autonomous and decarbonized future possible. A SeaRAY AOPS, which is the focus of this paper, consists of three primary components: C-Power’s SeaRAY surface wave power systemA non-complex, combined mooring, data communications, and power systemVerlume’s Halo seafloor energy storage and intelligent energy management system The following paper highlights both a real-world and hypothetical deployment of a SeaRAY AOPS, demonstrating its ability to benefit a diverse array of activity in the ocean economy. First, the paper details the work of C-Power and Verlume, in partnership with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Energy, Saab, R2Sonic, Hibbard Inshore, and other industry leaders, to deploy an AOPS at the Wave Energy Test Site in Hawaii for six months, beginning in the first half of 2023. The Hawaii AOPS will power multiple mobile and static assets capable of delivering persistent, self-contained, and self-powered intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and reporting capabilities for 24x7x52 maritime defense and border security. The ability to support this use case demonstrates AOPS applicability across a wide variety of offshore applications. Second, the paper explores a theoretical use case to deploy AOPS technology to reduce capital and operational costs and carbon emissions, as well as reduce operational complexity, at the Northern Lights carbon sequestration facility located off the Norwegian coast. While the case study examines the Northern Lights greenfield opportunity using an AOPS in lieu of a power and data umbilical, brownfield upgrades or replacements of failed/failing umbilicals are equally applicable scenarios.