Thailand’s state energy company, PTTEP, has joined the Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) collaborative project intended to prove the concept of powering subsea equipment with wave power and intelligent subsea energy storage.
The £2m demonstrator initiative, which has taken to the seas off the coast of Orkney, Scotland, has connected the Blue X wave energy converter – built by Edinburgh company Mocean Energy – with a Halo underwater battery developed by Aberdeen intelligent energy management specialists Verlume.
The fully operational project aims to show how green technologies can be combined to provide reliable low carbon power and communications to subsea equipment, offering a cost-effective alternative to cables, which are carbon intensive with long lead times to procure and install.
PTTEP is the Thai national petroleum exploration and production outfit and operates in numerous countries. The business has a stated ambition to build readiness for the energy transition and to explore opportunities in renewable energy.
The company will join project leads Mocean Energy and Verlume to become consortium partners alongside Baker Hughes, Serica Energy, Harbour Energy, Transmark Subsea, and the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC).
Joining RSP will provide PTTEP access to all data and results of the test programme, which is taking place at a site 5km east of the Orkney mainland. The company will also be able to offer input to test plans and will be provided with a feasibility assessment of the use of RSP technology.
“This inward investment underlines the international interest in the potential of our combined technologies,” said Mocean Energy commercial director Ian Crossland.
“Scotland has a long track record in subsea excellence and is the global leader in wave technology development, and we are delighted that PTTEP has decided to come on board.”
Verlume chief commercial officer Andy Martin added: “The RSP project is a solution which can help decarbonise operations in many locations across the world and the further expansion of the project consortium is a concrete example of international demand.
“We look forward to receiving PTTEP’s input and insights and to working closely with them alongside the consortium members to further explore our energy transition enabling technologies.”
PTTEP technology management division senior vice president Bundit Pattanasak said: “We are pleased to be joining this collaborative venture at such an exciting moment where we can learn lessons alongside our new partners and also share in the project’s success.
“PTTEP is committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal in 2050 and one of the initiatives is to maximize the use of renewable energy in our operations.
“We can see the potential of the RSP project that will support us to achieve the decarbonization target.”
NZTC technology manager Mhairi Begg added: “We are excited to have PTTEP join the consortium. This inward investment demonstrates the international potential of the technology and marks a significant moment in the project’s success.
“The consortium is a prime example of how global collaboration can advance green technologies and foster technology deployment.”
