DNV Introduces Hybrid Power Systems for Offshore Units

Our initial studies show that hybrid technology can add value to a project in several different ways:

  • Fuel consumption and emissions: It can reduce fuel consumption and emissions as much as 40 percent as described above.
  • Green field: For a new build the number of gas turbine generator sets or the size of them can potentially be reduced, since the power generation system can be designed based more on average power loads rather than peak loads. This will reduce CAPEX for the generators. If the number of generators is reduced then the maintenance costs will drop proportionally. Maintenance cost for an offshore gas turbine is about 18 percent of the turbine CAPEX per year.
  • Brown-field: For a brown-field development where more power is required then it is easier to install batteries below deck rather than free up deck space for additional generators. Top side modification is very expensive and results in extended production shut-down. The battery can be modularised for easier handling and installation below deck.
  • Deck-space: If fewer generators are installed then this will free up valuable deck-space that can be used for other purposes or potentially reduce the size of the facility. On a typical pre-salt FPSO with 75 MW of installed power, the power generation equipment takes up 10 to 15 percent of the available deck space.
  • Performance: Batteries can deliver instant power compared to a gas generator which needs time to spin up when increasing the load. This is very important in dynamic applications such as dynamic positioning systems or heave compensated lifting systems.
  • Energy harvesting: The batteries allow energy to be stored which can be used to recover energy from, for example, electric active heave drawworks used for drilling or cranes. Today, this energy is burned off as heat.
  • Reliability: Since the power generators will run at much steadier and ideal loads, this has a positive effect on the reliability of this equipment, thus reducing unplanned maintenance.

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