By Dr Andrea Caio, Business Development Manager

On 27^th March 2024, the UK’s North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) published its OGA Plan^[1] to reduce UKCS greenhouse gas emissions. This builds on the 2021 North Sea Transition Deal^[2], which committed the O&G industry to halve GHG emissions by 2030[3] (compared to a 2018 baseline) and invest £2-3billion on electrification, with a view to reach net zero basin by 2050.

The OGA Plan is a consequential driver in moving from an occasionally fuzzy concept of decarbonisation to a more practical incarnation of the term. More actions are needed to reduce emissions – this is hardly newsworthy; more interesting is the ‘how’. Asset electrification and low carbon power are key pillars identified by the Plan.

Its Central Obligation states that O&G operators / owners / license holders[4] must:

• “take appropriate steps to […] reducing GHG emissions from sources such as […] power generation, and supporting CCS projects”;
• “ensure that technologies, including new, emerging, and existing, are deployed, to their optimum effect, and […] encourage the development of such technologies.”

It is worth picking out some of the more salient regulations introduced. In the area of ‘Investment and efficiency’ there is a requirement to:

• “Produce an Emission Reduction Action Plan (ERAP) for each asset which, among other things, summarises and assesses applicability of available emissions abatement and emissions monitoring opportunities and technologies, and sets out planned emissions reduction initiatives, including for logistics emissions.”

For ‘(asset) Electrification and low carbon power’, the Plan mandates that:

• “New developments with a first O&G date after 1 January 20230 must be either fully electrified or run on alternative low carbon power with near equivalent emissions reductions. For tie-back developments, that will mean only tying back to hosts that are fully electrified or committed, to the NSTA’s satisfaction, to electrification or low carbon power.”

Acknowledging that such top-down regulations are likely to place growing emphasis on decarbonisation in the near and longer-term future, and having actively participated in the NSTA’s consultation process[5], Mocean Energy has been focusing on providing bottom-up solutions. By this we mean using ocean energy to enable electrification and low carbon power generation, working alongside integrators and operators to transform clean electron provision into turn-key offshore industry solutions.

RSP[6] is a pioneering demonstration of this, utilising our Blue X wave energy converter (above) – winner of the 2024 Offshore Achievement Award (OAA) in the Pre-commercial Deployment category[7] – to power a commercially representative subsea micro-grid in the North Sea.

Our ocean energy technology explicitly links to two central pillars of the OGA Plan:

• Blue Star (10s kW) can replace costly, carbon-intensive static umbilicals to provide local power & over-the-horizon communications for subsea assets;
• Blue Horizon (100s of kW) can enable platform electrification, as well as local subsea chemical storage & injection and other CCS relevant solutions.

Both products build on our hard-earned track record at sea, combining robust wave energy converter technology with topside solar and energy storage – delivering reliable, renewable, continuous power to serviced assets.

Currently, two-thirds of UK emissions come from the O&G industry, and, according to the OGA Plan, “electrification alone could, under the best-case scenario, deliver emissions savings of 1-2 million tonnes in 2030, equivalent to taking 1million cars off the road for a year, and up to 22 million tonnes by 2050.”

Just as the NSTA “would welcome industry owning and delivering these [emission] reductions”, Mocean Energy stands ready to support the sector with locally generated renewable energy from the ocean, continuing to enable a practical transition via the deployment of a high UK content ocean energy sector[8]. Ocean energy technology, like our Blue X wave energy converter, can pave the way to carbon mitigation via systems scalable in size and number, both now and in the near future. Ultimately, these will grow into grid-scale systems that can support a longer-term and more diverse energy transition.

As the market pull for ocean energy technology continues to grow and roadmaps begin to crystallise, opportunities must be supported by appropriate regulation, as well as funding and collaboration. It is our vision that, alongside our existing partners, new stakeholders will actively join this movement – if you think you may be one of them, do get in touch!

🌊hello@mocean.energy

[1] OGA Plan to reduce UKCS greenhouse gas emissions (nstauthority.co.uk)

[2] North Sea Transition Deal (publishing.service.gov.uk)

[3] NB: the industry is currently behind on delivering this goal – Emissions Monitoring Report 2022 (nstauthority.co.uk)

[4] ‘Relevant persons’ specified include: holders and operators of petroleum licenses; owners, planners and commissioners of upstream petroleum infrastructure; and owners of relevant offshore installations.

[5] Response to the consultation on draft OGA Plan (nstauthority.co.uk)

[6] Wave power for subsea equipment project finishes 12-month-long test program – Offshore Energy (offshore-energy.biz)

[7] Mocean’s Blue X wins OAA award – Mocean Energy

[8] The Blue X wave energy converter prototype embodies ~80% UK content.

The post Exploring the ‘how’ appeared first on Mocean Energy.

The need for sustainable energy solutions within the offshore energy industry is becoming increasingly crucial, with a focus towards innovations that provide a way of harnessing power from our oceans. At Mocean Energy, we are proud that our innovative technology has been recognised and celebrated, as we were shortlisted for two technology awards in offshore renewable energy categories.

Our prototype, Blue X wave energy converter was developed and built in Scotland and commenced testing in Orkney in 2021, successfully harnessing energy from both gentle summer waves to the harsh and tumultuous winter conditions of the North Sea.

Testament to the innovative nature and potential impact of our technology, Blue X was nominated and won the Pre-Commercial Deployment Technology Award at this year’s SPE Offshore Achievement Awards. This award not only acknowledges the ingenuity behind our Blue X wave energy converter but also highlights its practical applications in providing renewable, cost-effective power and communications to offshore assets, including those in the oil and gas and CCUS sectors.

Since 2020, we have been collaborating in a cross-industry offshore demonstration project – called Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) – in which Blue X, allied to subsea energy storage, is providing local power and communications to project partner subsea equipment. This is a world-first demonstrator project, where the full offshore system is powered exclusively by wave energy and is operated remotely. The latest phase of RSP is now coming to a close after the successful completion of 12-months of testing in the waters off Orkney. The future rollout of this technology will provide important jobs in clean energy as part of a just transition for Scotland’s world-leading engineering and offshore workforce, as part of a collective Net Zero shift.

Our involvement in the joint industry demonstrator RSP project further propelled us into the limelight. This collaborative effort was nominated for The Engineer magazine’s Collaborate to Innovate Awards, specifically in the Energy & Environment category. The recognition of our contribution to this project highlighted the collaborative spirit and industry traction our technology is building within the industry.

Our success in these awards serves as validation of the dedication and skill of our team. It reaffirms our commitment to pushing the boundaries of ocean energy technology and reminds us all of the huge responsibility that comes with pioneering change in an industry that plays a critical role in shaping the future of our planet.

The post Offshore Renewable Energy Technology – Powering the Future appeared first on Mocean Energy.

Not only has Blue X been able to demonstrate wave energy innovation, data capturing and scalability, but also celebrates collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Blue X shines a light on a greener future.

Congratulations to all OAA 2024 winners and finalists, there is much to celebrate by all.

And of course, huge congratulations to the Mocean Energy team and our collaboration partners! 🎉👏 🌊

To find out more about the awards, visit https://lnkd.in/eNc-5gY6

The post Mocean’s Blue X wins OAA award appeared first on Mocean Energy.

• Plan to finalise Orkney project this Spring.
• Industry players to assess lessons learned and plan next steps.

A groundbreaking ocean energy project which has combined wave power with subsea energy storage to power subsea equipment has now completed a 12-month test programme at sea and will end this Spring.

The final phase will commence shortly and will include removing all equipment from the site, ahead of inspection and clean down onshore in Orkney and at Verlume’s operations facility in Dyce, Aberdeen.

The £2million Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) project connected the Blue X wave energy converter – built by Edinburgh company Mocean Energy – with a Halo underwater battery storage system developed by Aberdeen intelligent energy management specialists, Verlume.

The industry-backed project, located 5km east of Orkney Mainland, has shown how green technologies can be combined to provide reliable and continuous low carbon power and communications to subsea equipment, offering a cost-effective future alternative to umbilical cables, which are carbon intensive with long lead times to procure and install.

In recent months energy majors TotalEnergies and Shell Technology – Marine Renewable Program have joined project leads Mocean Energy and Verlume in the pan-industry initiative, alongside PTTEP, the Thai national oil company, Serica Energy, Harbour Energy, Baker Hughes, Transmark Subsea, and the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC).

“The test programme has been a tremendous success,” says Andy Martin, Chief Commercial Officer at Verlume.

“This phase of RSP was initially conceived as a four-month at-sea demonstration, but the quality of data and the robustness of our combined technologies as well as tremendous support from the oil majors, led us to extend the programme to a full year. We now have increasing confidence in the reliability and the commercial potential of this system.”

Ian Crossland, Commercial Director at Mocean Energy says:

“In the subsequent months, all the technology providers will examine critical components for wear and tear against performance metrics defined both individually and as a fully integrated power and communications ecosystem.  A key part of this process will be assessing lessons learned and any future upgrades that may be required for a fully commercial system.”

Graeme Rogerson, Head of Net Zero Technology at NZTC says:

“It’s fantastic to see the RSP project successfully demonstrated. The work carried out during this project shows what’s possible when innovative technology is given the right financial and industry support. This is only the beginning for Mocean Energy’s Blue X wave energy converter and Verlume’s Halo underwater battery storage system; future phases will further accelerate the technology’s development and accelerate commercialisation, which is always the end goal.” 

The joint industry participants and developers are now evaluating near-term and future plans for further deployment or possible testing on live assets.

This may include deploying a similar project in Scottish waters, and / or a new project or projects overseas to further demonstrate how this combination of green technologies can enable reliable low carbon power and communications to subsea equipment in a live environment.

In 2021, the consortium invested £1.6million into phase two of the programme – which saw the successful integration of the core technologies in an onshore test environment at Verlume’s operations facility in Aberdeen.

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 subsea 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.

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• Investment by Shell Technology – Marine Renewable Program.
• Potential to use technology for decarbonising existing assets.

Energy major Shell has joined the Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) collaborative project which is currently powering subsea equipment off the coast of Orkney through a combination of wave power and subsea energy storage.   

The £2million demonstrator initiative, which is currently nearing 12–months in the water, has connected the Blue X wave energy converter – built by Edinburgh company Mocean Energy – with a Halo underwater battery storage system developed by Aberdeen intelligent energy management specialists Verlume.

The fully operational project, located 5km east of Orkney Mainland, 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 umbilical cables, which are carbon intensive with long lead times to procure and install.

The new investment has come via the Shell Technology – Marine Renewable Program, a global R&D group pursuing the mission of finding, screening, testing, and developing marine renewable energy technologies to achieve more value with lower emissions and help build the critical energy infrastructure for the Blue Economy to grow and thrive.

They will now join project leads Mocean Energy and Verlume, alongside industry players Baker Hughes, Serica Energy, Harbour Energy, Transmark Subsea, PTTEP, TotalEnergies and the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC).

Joining RSP offers Shell access to all data and results from the current test programme, alongside a feasibility assessment of the use of RSP technology at a location of their choice.  

Ian Crossland, Commercial Director at Mocean Energy says:

“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.”

Andy Martin, Chief Commercial Officer at Verlume added:

“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.

“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 says:

“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 is the third phase of the pioneering Renewables for Subsea Power project. In 2021, the consortium invested £1.6million into phase two of the programme – which saw the successful integration of the core technologies in an onshore test environment at Verlume’s operations facility in Aberdeen.

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.

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Energy major TotalEnergies has joined the Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) collaborative project which is currently powering subsea equipment off the east coast of Orkney with wave power from Mocean Energy and intelligent subsea energy storage from Verlume.   

The £2million demonstrator initiative, which is underway in the north of Scotland, has connected the Blue X wave energy converter – built by Edinburgh company Mocean Energy – with a Halo underwater battery storage system developed by Aberdeen intelligent energy management specialists Verlume.

The fully operational project, which is in situ off the coast of Orkney, 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 umbilical cables, which are carbon intensive with long lead times to procure and install.

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company, active in more than 130 countries and committed to better energy that is ever more affordable, more sustainable, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible.

TotalEnergies, supported by their Ocean Energy R&D team based out of Pau, France, will now join project leads Mocean Energy and Verlume, alongside industry players Baker Hughes, Serica Energy, Harbour Energy, Transmark Subsea, PTTEP and the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC).

Joining RSP offers TotalEnergies access to all data and results from the extended test programme, taking place at a site 5km east of the Orkney Mainland. TotalEnergies will also be able to offer input to test plans and will be provided with a feasibility assessment of the use of RSP technology at a location of their choice.  

It is anticipated that participation will support TotalEnergies’ activities both in the UK and overseas addressing the wider energy transition across their production and energy products, as it aims to become carbon net zero, together with society, by 2050.

Dave MacKinnon, TotalEnergies Technology, Data & Innovation Manager says:

“Our participation in RSP demonstrates how important it is to us to pursue new ideas and technology that will support the decarbonisation of our oil and gas production business, both here in the UK and across the world. We’re pleased to be participating and look forward to seeing the results of this collaboration.”

Ian Crossland, Commercial Director at Mocean Energy says:

“TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company and this new investment underscores the international interest in the potential of our combined technologies.  

“TotalEnergies has a long history in Scotland and an incredible track record in offshore operations, and their experience will be extremely valuable as we begin to commercialise our Blue Star product line.”

Andy Martin, Chief Commercial Officer at Verlume added:

“Renewables for Subsea Power is capturing industry-leading project data as we demonstrate how Verlume’s Halo subsea battery storage can reliably power subsea equipment through being recharged by a wave energy device.

“It is fantastic that TotalEnergies recognises the value of this data and has come on board within RSP to share insights such as further use cases for this technology system.”

Mhairi Begg, Technology Manager at NZTC says:

“We are delighted to have TotalEnergies join the RSP project and it demonstrates the domestic and international potential of the technology, whilst marking 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.”

The Orkney deployment is the third phase of the Renewables for Subsea Power project. In 2021, the consortium invested £1.6million into phase two of the programme – which saw the successful integration of the core technologies in an onshore test environment at Verlume’s operations facility in Aberdeen.

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 they generated first power and gathered significant 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.

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Scots ocean energy pioneer Mocean Energy is heading to COP 28 this week as part of a delegation of 19 leading companies seeking to showcase Scotland’s ambition and expertise in net zero.

Company co-founder and Managing Director Cameron McNatt will take part in an intensive programme of events in the United Arab Emirates where he and other business leaders from Scotland will meet potential investors and business collaborators.

It is hoped the ocean energy firm will generate interest from delegates and governments keen to use ocean waves and offshore solar as new and untapped forms of low carbon power. 

Mocean Energy is currently a key participant in the £2million Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) programme which has connected Mocean’s 10kW Blue X wave energy prototype with a Halo underwater battery system developed by Aberdeen intelligent energy management specialists Verlume.

The two technologies are currently in the seas off Orkney where they are delivering low carbon power and communication to infrastructure including Baker Hughes’ subsea controls equipment and a resident underwater autonomous vehicle (AUV) provided by Transmark Subsea. The programme has been supported by industry partners alongside the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), which is also attending the COP.

In the host city Dubai, meetings will be centred largely in the conference’s ‘green zone’, where attendees will explore how to turn climate policy into concrete action. The delegation has been organised by The Scottish Chambers of Commerce alongside The Scottish Government and Scottish Development International, and delegates will be supported by a number of ‘Global Scots’ tasked with opening doors for the Scottish firms.

“This COP is focussed very much on what we can do in practical terms, and I am keen to showcase how ocean energy can make a significant contribution to a net zero world,” says Mocean Energy Managing Director Cameron McNatt.

Earlier this month Mocean Energy attended the international ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi, where team members met Dr Sultan Ahamed al Jabar, President-Designate for COP28 and chair of Masdar, the UAE’s state-owned renewable energy company.

“There is a genuine interest in the Gulf region in transformational technologies which can make a significant green impact in the years ahead. The Scottish Chamber, the government and SDI have brought together a terrific delegation of world-leading Scottish firms and I hope our joint presence will create interest and inspiration leading to the adoption of Scottish technologies which can accelerate the low carbon transition,” McNatt concludes.

The delegation of 19 industry-leading Net Zero companies builds on the already well-established relationship Scotland enjoys with the UAE, and will showcase its expertise and strength across a range of sectors, including clean and renewable energy, hydrogen, space and other innovative technologies.

COP28 will further Scotland’s Net Zero interests and showcase its innovation strengths in key net zero sectors to a global audience, while increasing business-to-business engagement that can foster future collaboration in meeting the challenges of achieving Net Zero.

The delegation will include businesses from throughout Scotland, including:

• Aquatera
• Astroagency
• CCU International
• Digital Content Analysis Technology Ltd
• Green Bioactives Limited
• Hydrogen Vehicle Systems
• Krucial
• Mocean Energy
• Motive Offshore Group
• Net Zero Technology Centre
• Norco Group
• Nova
• Orbital Marine Power
• ReVentas
• Roslin Technologies
• Siccar
• Solariskit
• Storegga
• Sunamp

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• Katapult Ocean and MOL PLUS join existing investors.
• £499,500 grant from Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund.
• Plan to commercialise Blue Star and secure first orders.
• Continued R&D on Blue Horizon grid-scale machine.

Wave energy pioneer Mocean Energy has raised £2.2million new equity alongside a £500,000 grant to drive the commercialisation of its wave energy technologies.

The equity funds come from existing investors including Equity Gap, Scottish Enterprise and Old College Capital, the University of Edinburgh’s venture investment fund, alongside new shareholders Norwegian impact investors Katapult Ocean and MOL PLUS, the corporate venture capital arm of listed Japanese shipping conglomerate MOL.

In addition, Mocean has secured a £499,500 Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund grant, targeted specifically at the detailed design, build and testing of key subsystems for their small-scale Blue Star wave energy machine.

The low carbon fund is administered by Scottish Enterprise and is part of Making Scotland’s Future, a partnership between the Scottish Government, public agencies, industry, and academia that aims to secure a strong, sustainable future for the country’s manufacturing businesses.

The new funds will help the Edinburgh and Aberdeen-based company commercialise and secure first orders for Blue Star which will be built in Scotland and is targeted at decarbonising subsea operations in the offshore energy sector.

It will also drive further research and development into their large-scale Blue Horizon technology, which was recently awarded £3.2million by the EU-backed EuropeWave programme. Mocean plans to refine the Blue Horizon 250kW design ahead of the manufacture and deployment of a grid-connected machine at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney as early as 2025.

“This new equity investment is significant for Mocean Energy – not just in the quantum invested, but in the additional strengths and specialist expertise our new shareholders bring,” says Mocean Energy managing director and co-founder Cameron McNatt.

“MOL has a global footprint in marine transport sector and MOL PLUS will help us access MOL Group’s significant resources and expertise to accelerate our commercialisation.

“Katapult Ocean invests solely in technologies which will have a positive impact on our oceans, and the Mocean team will now be able to participate in Katapult Ocean’s award-winning accelerator programme to help drive our business growth.

“The grant funding is also vital and has been match funded through this new equity round. It will help us accelerate the commercial development of our Blue Star technology.

“The coming years will be crucial to Mocean Energy, and as we scale up we need to take on board all of the learnings from our current Renewables for Subsea Power project and draw on the experience of our partners and new investors.

“I am extremely grateful to our existing shareholders who have invested again in this round, to Scottish Enterprise and to MOL PLUS and Katapult Ocean for joining us on this exciting journey,” McNatt concludes.

Anthony Bellafiore, Investment Manager for Katapult Ocean says:

“Katapult Ocean is thrilled to be supporting Mocean as it prepares to bring its wave energy technology into the renewables market. Our investment is the culmination of nearly two years of research and diligence in the burgeoning field of wave energy, which took us across the spectrum of platforms and solutions being developed to capture the still largely untapped resource of wave power. With their robust and efficient wave energy converter, we feel Cameron and the rest of the Mocean team are poised to play an important role in pushing the world closer to its net zero targets, and we’re looking forward to helping them do so.” 

Takuya Sakamoto, CEO of MOL PLUS says:

“We believe that Mocean Energy has a great potential of growth in this market with a strong team of advanced initiatives and rapid implementation of their Blue Star project. We will keep up with the Blue Star and Blue Horizon projects and be proactive with collaborating with Mocean Energy and all partners. To support this, we have agreed a memorandum of understanding for business alliance between Mocean Energy, MOL HQ and MOL PLUS. We are looking forward to an exciting journey with Mocean Energy.”

Jane Martin, Managing Director of Innovation and Investment at Scottish Enterprise, says:

“This funding package is a great example of the public and private sectors working together to unlock investment in renewable energy.  

“The projects it supports are crucially important. One can completely transform the way power is provided to remote, energy intensive subsea equipment, while the other addresses the need for reliable, low-cost renewable energy at scale. Combined, they have the potential to play an important role in the internationally competitive green energy industry that’s emerging right here in Scotland.”

Fraser Lusty, Director at Equity Gap says:

“Equity Gap is delighted to continue to support Mocean Energy on its journey to commercialise its wave energy power generation technology. The theme of increasing and diversifying renewable power generation is an important one for our members and we are pleased with the impressive progress that the company has made since our initial investment in 2020.”

Andrea Young, Head of Investment, Old College Capital says:

“Old College Capital is proud to continue investing in Mocean Energy, a company led by two co-founders who are both PhD graduates of the University of Edinburgh. Mocean Energy is already a pioneer in the wave energy market and we are excited to continue supporting the company as it accelerates towards commercialisation.”

Mocean Energy is currently a key participant in the £2million Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) programme which has connected Mocean’s 10kW Blue X wave energy prototype with a Halo underwater battery system developed by Aberdeen intelligent energy management specialists Verlume.

The two technologies are currently in the seas off Orkney where they are delivering low carbon power and communication to infrastructure including Baker Hughes’ subsea controls equipment and a resident underwater autonomous vehicle (AUV) provided by Transmark Subsea. The programme has been supported by industry partners alongside the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC).

Mocean Energy has also been awarded £3.2million (€3,749,405) in Phase 3 of EuropeWave, a pre-commercial procurement programme, funded through the EU and managed in collaboration with Wave Energy Scotland, the Basque Energy Agency and Ocean Energy Europe.

The Blue X prototype was built in Scotland with around 80 percent local supply chain content, and it is anticipated Blue Horizon will deliver similar levels of local work. In March, Mocean Energy selected Aberdeen-based TEXO Engineering and Fabrication as its preferred fabrication, assembly and load-out contractor for its future wave energy convertors.

The deployment and demonstration of the Blue X at EMEC was funded by Wave Energy Scotland (WES) and supported by Interreg North-West Europe’s Ocean DEMO project.

The post Mocean Energy raise £2.2million new equity plus £500,000 grant to drive commercialisation plans appeared first on Mocean Energy.

• EuropeWave funding for 250 kW wave machine
• Orkney at-sea installation to commence in 2025
• Machine to be built in Scotland
• Paves the way to wave array in UK waters

Wave energy pioneers Mocean Energy has secured over £3million EU funding to develop and deploy a 250kW wave machine in Orkney.

The large-scale wave energy device – named Blue Horizon 250 – will be manufactured in Scotland and will be deployed in a grid-connected berth at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney as early as 2025.

It is hoped the project could then pave the way to a small wave farm delivering 1-2 MW of low carbon electricity by 2030.

The Edinburgh firm has been awarded £3.2million (€3,749,405) in Phase 3 of EuropeWave, a pre-commercial procurement programme, funded through the EU and managed in collaboration with Wave Energy Scotland, the Basque Energy Agency and Ocean Energy Europe.

Mocean Energy is one of three wave companies to have been awarded funds in Phase 3, each of which has successfully passed through competitive stage gates in Phases 1 and 2 of the programme.

The other successful companies are IDOM Consulting and CETO Wave Energy Ireland, who will install their devices at the Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) in northern Spain.

“This is a major milestone for Mocean Energy,” states company co-founder and Managing Director Cameron McNatt.

“We have already demonstrated our technology successfully at small scale and this programme will allow us to build a significantly larger machine based on our proven hinged raft design, and incorporate our novel direct drive generator.

“We are already working with a range of supply chain partners across Scotland and the UK who bring tremendous experience and professionalism to the wave energy sector, and I am confident we have the right suppliers on board to bring this ambitious project to fruition.

“Innovation funding is crucial for early-stage technologies, and I am grateful to EuropeWave for this support which will help leverage the additional private investment this project will require.

“Looking further ahead, our goal is to deliver a small array in UK waters this decade, and I am confident that with appropriate innovation funding in place we can realise our ambition to build commercial wave energy arrays and generate home-grown green energy from our seas, both in the UK and around the world,” McNatt says.

Mocean Energy is already a key participant in the £2million Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) programme which has connected Mocean’s 10kW Blue X wave energy prototype with a Halo underwater battery system developed by Aberdeen intelligent energy management specialists Verlume.

The two technologies are currently in the seas off Orkney where they are delivering low carbon power and communication to infrastructure including Baker Hughes’ subsea controls equipment and a resident underwater autonomous vehicle (AUV) provided by Transmark Subsea. The programme has been supported by industry partners alongside the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC).

Blue Horizon 250 will be a significant scale up from Blue X and is designed for commercial applications on islands and remote communities, while also including early grid projects and off-grid applications, such as oil and gas and aquaculture.

The Blue X prototype was built in Scotland with around 80 percent local supply chain content, and it is anticipated Blue Horizon will deliver similar levels of local work. In March, Mocean Energy selected Aberdeen-based TEXO Engineering and Fabrication as its preferred fabrication, assembly and load-out contractor for its future wave energy convertors.

The deployment and demonstration of the Blue X at EMEC was funded by Wave Energy Scotland (WES) and supported by Interreg North-West Europe’s Ocean DEMO project.

Tim Hurst, Managing Director of WES said:

“With their Blue X prototype deployed in Scapa Flow, Mocean Energy proved their technology had the right cost, performance and reliability to deliver commercial wave energy. 

“The RSP project has successfully demonstrated the technology in a specific oil and gas application, and now phase 3 of EuropeWave will demonstrate that the technology can scale up and ultimately be deployed in sufficient numbers to make a significant contribution to our net zero targets. 

“The EuropeWave project itself has shown that effective collaboration between European public funders in a structured and competitive programme can accelerate technology development and deliver outcomes to an internationally recognised standard.”

Neil Kermode, EMEC’s Managing Director, said:

“Mocean Energy first came to Orkney in June 2021 with the testing of their Blue X prototype on our scale test site in Scapa Flow for a five month test campaign gaining initial operational experience in real-sea conditions

“We’re delighted to see Mocean secure this funding and continue the next steps in their development journey in Orkney which will see them deploy at our grid-connected test site at Billia Croo. This perfectly illustrates the importance of facilities and services that enable practical demonstration and allows learning by doing.”    

Phase 3 will involve the detail design, a full-scale build, and 12 months at-sea testing of a first-of-a-kind wave energy converter (WEC) at EMEC, leading to technology readiness level TRL6/7 (TRL1-9 scale). Focus areas will include:

• Building a novel power take-off system (PTO) at full-scale – combining a Vernier Hybrid Machine (VHM) with an associated linkage mechanism to boost energy yield/mass;
• Exporting power to the grid – ensuring grid compatibility and compliance;
• Meeting targets set across IEA-OES evaluation areas, and improving across power performance, availability, reliability, and survivability in particular;
• Refining costs and our commercial roadmap – ensuring follow up projects exist that are viable and attractive to customers and end-users;

To complete the full-scale 250 kW Blue Horizon programme, Mocean will bring in private funding as required.

“The EuropeWave programme is a vital catalyst to build confidence in the industry and accelerate the technology towards commercialisation,” McNatt concludes.

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Aker Solutions Subsea and Mocean Energy will explore low-carbon solutions that increase the lifetime of brownfield energy infrastructure by using locally generated ocean power to tie-back stranded reservoirs.

Wave energy could help tap new reserves from well-used oil and gas infrastructure under a joint-industry plan revealed today.

Wave energy specialists Mocean Energy and offshore energy enabler Aker Solutions Subsea have committed to together explore how locally generated wave energy can extend the lifetime of existing oil and gas hubs by accessing stranded reserves.

The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) pledging to combine their expertise in wave energy conversion and subsea integrated solutions to develop a reliable, cost-effective means of powering subsea infrastructure.

The agreement could culminate in the development of a pilot project in UK waters within two years.

The MoU includes undertaking feasibility, front-end engineering and design and concept studies for wave-powered tiebacks. The studies will aim to identify the most economically and environmentally efficient solutions to develop marginal reserves, especially in combination with energy storage.

Using wave energy and subsea energy storage to tie back stranded reserves could extend the life of existing subsea production assets, reducing the need for new oilfield developments.

Morten Pedersen, SVP Systems and Products, Aker Solutions, said:

“Today there are remote, marginal pockets within aging fields that could potentially be powered with this technology at a lower lifetime cost than installing new umbilical cables.

“If our pilot project proves feasible, this solution will benefit mature regions such as UKCS and NCS (the UK and Norwegian continental shelves), enabling operators to maximize economic extraction from declining brownfields and reduce the need for new oil and gas development, a vital step in the transition to net zero.

“This collaboration could be highly beneficial for the industry globally,” Morten concludes.

Mocean Energy is already a participant in a collaborative industry initiative — Renewables for Subsea Power — which is currently proving the concept of powering subsea equipment with wave power and intelligent subsea energy storage.  

The GBP £2million initiative, which is currently operational in Orkney, has connected Mocean Energy’s Blue X wave energy converter with a Halo underwater battery developed by Aberdeen intelligent energy management specialists, Verlume.

Cameron McNatt, Managing Director of Mocean Energy said:

“We are delighted to be working with Aker Solutions, a recognized industry leader in subsea technology and decarbonization. Our collaboration will provide customers with a complete solution to their power and communications needs that is reliable and low carbon.”

The partners will target the development of at least one concept study into a pilot project at sea, through various routes, including multi-customer joint industry projects. 

Aker Solutions will supply the complete ocean-power system — including overall subsea system integration, system engineering support and subsea equipment plans.

Mocean Energy will supply the wave energy technology, wave-energy specific project engineering and energy analysis for remote power delivery. 

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