OGA: Gas-to-Wire Concept Boosts Offshore Power Output

A partnership between gas platforms and wind farms could see more power generated – maximising both gas production and renewable electricity generation offshore, according to a report from the UK’s Oil and Gas Authority (OGA).

The concept of gas-to-wire (GTW) involves using the gas produced from gas fields to be generated into electricity offshore and then transmitted to shore via spare capacity with subsea cables used for wind farms.

Due to the intermittence of wind, annual use of the associated power infrastructure is typically 40%, according to the report. This spare capacity presents an alternative route for electricity generated offshore from currently producing gas fields or even from undeveloped discoveries and stranded gas resources.

By installing offshore power generation facilities, operators could export electricity via established wind farm infrastructure instead of exporting gas to shore by pipeline. As a relatively flexible and fast responding form of power generation, it could play a useful role in balancing the electricity grid as supply and demand fluctuates.

The report ‘Gas To Wire: UK SNS and EIS’ looks at the technical considerations and potential benefits from GTW in areas such as the Southern North Sea and the East Irish Sea. Both are unique in featuring established offshore gas-producing facilities and infrastructure alongside large existing and planned offshore wind farms.

In addition to generating additional electricity offshore, other benefits from gas and renewables collaboration include the potential to reduce operating costs by pooling logistics and establishing guidance for effective co-existence within the same geographic area.

Eric Marston, Area Manager at the OGA said: “Gas-to-wire has the potential to both help maximise the UK’s remaining gas resources whilst also boosting electricity generation offshore, with associated benefits for both gas producers and windfarm operators. We continue to see interest from a number of developers and operators seeking to commercialise this opportunity.”

Whilst individual elements of GTW are already proven (eg: offshore gas production, gas-fired power generation, subsea power transmission), work is still required to bring the concept to market. The OGA continues to support the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) cross-industry work group which aims to promote gas and renewables synergies, whilst also collaborating with colleagues in the Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) who are considering similar concepts.

Simon Gray CEO of EEEGR said: “For the last eighteen months we have had a number of our members considering this sector. When we first looked at this opportunity, the barriers to market seeming just too difficult to overcome. However, the legislative difficulties now seem to be surmountable, the technology achievable and the market more willing to consider this as a real opportunity.”