Nordic countries debate energy policy after spikes in power prices
On Thursday, the hourly electricity prices in certain parts of Scandinavia reached record levels. They were tenfold higher in some cases than average, due to cold weather and lower wind power production. This prompted politicians to suggest a change in energy policy. In Denmark, the price per megawatt-hour (MWh) for an hour starting at 1600 GMT has risen to 936 Euros. South-western Norway and Southern Sweden have seen prices above 700 Euros/MWh.
Prices rise due to increased demand and less green power
The combination of a lower renewable energy supply in North-West Europe and a rising demand has led to a rise in electricity wholesale prices. By 0730 GMT on Thursday, the German baseload electricity for that day was up 14.1% to 109 euros ($121.61) a megawatt-hour (MWh), while its French equivalent was up by 9.8% to 95 euros/MWh. LSEG analyst Francisco Gaspar Machado observed an "increased residual load in Germany because of lower wind output…
X-Press Feeders to Use Green Methanol in Q2 2024
Singapore-based container shipper X-Press Feeders plans to use green methanol bunker to fuel part of its fleet in Europe in the second quarter of 2024, a senior executive said on Tuesday.The move comes as the European Union will extend its Emissions Trading System (ETS) next year to cover carbon dioxide emissions for all ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above entering EU…
Rapid Charging Systems: Current Technology for the Future of Ferries
As the devotion to more sustainable shipping expands and regulations become more stringent, the demand for lower emissions operations continues to increase. As a result, the marine industry is confronted with the challenge of large-scale electrification as an alternative energy solution.For electric ferries, one developing technology is Rapid Charging Systems (RCS), which transfer electrical power from the shore to a vessel at a high rate.
Future Fuels: Neste, Nordic Marine Oil team to debut "Co-processed marine fuel"
Neste and Nordic Marine Oil have partnered to pilot a new Neste Marine 0.1 Co-processed marine fuel in Scandinavia – a solution the pair claims will help the maritime sector reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: designed to cut up to 80% GHG emission reduction over the lifecycle compared to fossil fuels.“At Neste, we are dedicated to helping our customers and the entire value chain to reduce their GHG emissions.
Charging Ahead: Brent Perry & his Sterling PBES Team Drive Maritime Battery Tech
Brent Perry, CEO of Sterling PBES is a 40+ year veteran of the marine business, and one of the pioneers in delivering battery solutions to boats and ships at sea. Please give us a by the numbers look at Sterling PBES today?Right now we are sitting in a position where we had anticipated delivering somewhere in the neighborhood of $20-21 million worth of product, which is about 35 megawatt hours. And we’re scheduled to blow past that to almost $40 million.
TWMA Appoints Aslaksen as New CEO
Specialist drilling waste management company, TWMA, has announced the appointment of Halle Aslaksen as its new CEO.Aslaksen joins the Aberdeen-headquartered company from the Norwegian hydropower operator Småkraft, where he served as CEO. He was previously CEO at TCO and president of ALTUS Intervention in Scandinavia.With more than 20 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry…
Kiel Intros Germany's Largest Shore Power System
The Port of Kiel commissioned Siemens to build Germany’s largest shore power system to date which is capable of supplying two ships simultaneously.With a power of 16 megavolt amperes (MVA), the Siharbor solution will supply two ships simultaneously with certified eco-power, for the first time. This will reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 8,000 tons.The system is expected to go into test operation within the 2020 cruise ship season.
Scandinavia's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Opens
European energy giant Vattenfall opened Scandinavia’s largest offshore wind farm, Horns Rev 3.The 49 wind turbines on the Horns Rev 3 also represent Vattenfall’s and Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm, which is located 25-40 kilometers off Denmark’s west coast in the North Sea.Yesterday (22 August 2019), Crown Prince of Denmark accompanied by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Minister of Climate…
July: Earth's Hottest Month Ever Recorded
According to the latest monthly climate report from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), July 2019 was hottest month on record for the planet and Polar sea ice melted to record lows.Much of the planet sweltered in unprecedented heat in July, as temperatures soared to new heights in the hottest month ever recorded. The record warmth also shrank…
Offshore wind: One-stop power conversion
With the United States and China about to start their respective offshore wind build-ups, grid operators wondering about the efficiency of their turbines or the emissions-areas compliance of their wind-service vessels will be warmed to know there’s someone they can talk to. Yaskawa’s The Switch — a Japanese industrial giant’s European environmental tech business — is offering one-stop wind-energy shopping.
Wärtsilä Forms New Biofuel Arm
Finnish shipping technology group Wartsila has merged its Puregas Solutions and biogas liquefaction teams to form a new Biogas Solutions unit that will offer its customers a ‘one-stop-shop service’ for advanced biofuel production.Wärtsilä Biogas Solutions, a unit with expert capabilities in liquefying upgraded biogas for end-customer use, offers products for biogas upgrading to biomethane…
Offshore wind: One-stop Power Conversion
With the United States and China about to start their respective offshore wind build-ups, grid operators wondering about the efficiency of their turbines or the emissions-areas compliance of their wind-service vessels will be warmed to know there’s someone they can talk to. Yaskawa’s The Switch — a Japanese industrial giant’s European environmental tech business — is offering one-stop wind-energy shopping.
Survitec Restructures Offshore Division
Survitec Group, a manufacturer of marine safety and survival equipment, has restructured its offshore division to better serve customers with assets operating in the oil, gas and wind (renewable) energy sectors, it said.The reorganization of the business unit coincides with renewed activity in the offshore industry following the market downturn, together with Survitec’s overall strategy to hone its focus within key sectors.Ross Wilkinson, VP of U.K.
DNV GL Pact with WeatherTech on Wind Turbines
DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, today announced that it has joined forces with Swedish atmospheric science experts, WeatherTech.The combined expertise of both companies will enable the development of the most advanced icing model for wind turbines available on the market, allowing customers to better predict the performance of turbines in cold climates.In cold climates…
BMT Supports Installation of Kriegers Flak Foundations
BMT put its meteorological and wave forecasting expertise to use in supporting Jan De Nul Group with the installation of two gravity-based foundations for the Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Denmark.Christopher Derycke at Jan De Nul Group commented, “With any offshore operation, we have to try and manage the inherent uncertainty that comes with the weather.
Stena Oil Rolls Out Scandinavia's Largest Bunkering Terminal at Frederikshavn
Stena Oil has signed an agreement to create a new marine fuel terminal in the Port of Frederikshavn. The facility will be fully adapted for the new Sulphur Directive 2020 and its location will reduce the distances travelled by bunkering vessels. The oil terminal will be the largest of its kind in Scandinavia, with a capacity of 75 000 cubic metres. "We are delighted to be developing our business in Frederikshavn.
Proserv Secures $5.5 Mln Repsol Contract
Energy services company Proserv has secured a contract worth over $5.5 million (45 million Norwegian Kroner) with Repsol to upgrade and build new subsea production control equipment for the Yme field redevelopment in the Norwegian North Sea. The award scope initially covers the refurbishment and upgrade of the existing subsea control system. Using Proserv’s unique technology and expertise…
DNV GL Performs Offshore Drone Survey
Classification society DNV GL said its surveyors have carried the group’s first offshore drone survey on the semisubmersible vessel Safe Scandinavia in the North Sea. The 25,383 GT tender support vessel (TSV) Safe Scandinavia is owned and operated by Prosafe, supporting Statoil’s drilling operations off the coast of Norway. Using camera-equipped drones, DNV GL’s drone pilots…
Proserv Secures Decommissioning Work in Asia Pacific
Energy services company Proserv has been awarded a series of contracts worth around $4m for its well severance, platform and FPSO decommissioning services in the Asia Pacific region. The contracts have been awarded by Premier Oil in Indonesia; Chevron, through Baker Hughes, in the Gulf of Thailand; BHP, through Fugro, in Western Australia and by PCPP Operating Company, through Sapura Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd in Malaysia.
