INDUSTRY ARTICLE
DIESEL GENERATORS – RISKS AND COSTS
NEW
APPROACHES TO PROVIDING OFFSHORE POWER REDUCING RISK, REDUCING COST
Offshore wind turbines are helping the UK meet its energy capacity needs and to meet its carbon targets. However, without a secure and cost effective source of auxiliary back up power, the commercial viability of offshore wind turbines could be undermined. This is because one of the basic needs of a wind turbine is the provision of auxiliary power, especially before it is connected to the onshore electricity grid. Wind turbine warranties can be voided if the turbine is without power for more than a few days, radically altering the risk profile and hence insurance requirements of the wind farm.
Currently, the most widely used source of auxiliary power for offshore wind turbines are diesel generators. Whilst these are a proven solution, the logistic costs of refuelling and maintaining diesel generators offshore are high - this opex cost can account for over 90% of the cost of providing auxiliary power.
With the running costs of operating diesels offshore reaching more than five times what it is onshore, the complexities of transportation and operations out at sea, diesel generators come with cost and safety issues. With future offshore wind farms being built even further out at sea, these issues will become even more prominent.
SOLUTION – ADJOINING WAVE- POWERED LINEAR GENERATOR The solution to reducing the risks and costs for offshore auxiliary power is to use the sea to provide the necessary energy. Whilst there are many wave energy devices in development, most use hydraulics or gearing to convert wave motion to electricity. These are inefficient due to their inability to maximise the power extracted from every wave due to their slow responsiveness.
Through extensive research and development, in conjunction with partners including the University of Cambridge, Trident Energy has successfully developed technology that can maximise the energy that can be harnessed from each wave. The technology, successfully demonstrated at our testing facility in Lowestoft, Suffolk, allows for the real time control of a linear generator.
This offers a reliable and highly controllable means of converting motion directly into electricity. The ability to control a device in real time is an important enabling technology for the commercialisation of wave energy, this has the potential to be hugely beneficial to the offshore wind industry as it can be used to provide new auxiliary power solutions.
REDUCING RISKS AND COSTS It reduces the risks and costs associated with auxiliary power solutions solely dependent on diesel generators, by introducing a diverse, autonomous power supply and reducing the diesel refuelling challenge.
Through our innovative research programme we have been able to develop a new solution for the challenges associated with the provision of auxiliary power to offshore wind turbines. Our real time control technology has the potential to play an enabling role in the future success of this vital industry and renewable energy source.
Steve Packard CEO
Trident Energy
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
05
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