ABB, Aker Solutions join forces on offshore wind

ABB and Aker Solutions have added offshore wind to a strategic alliance agreement the two companies signed in 2016 for seabed solutions for oil and gas.

The updated agreement, which now also includes offshore fish farming, covers electrical and control for seabed solutions and offshore wind, power-from-shore and electrical, instrumentation, control and telecommunications for offshore aquaculture.

The companies said on 8 September that the extension to the agreement would accelerate technology development for offshore wind power and offshore fish farming, and would also support more efficient design and fabrication, and more sustainable operation and maintenance of such facilities.

ABB and Aker Solutions announced their strategic alliance in April 2016, saying the cooperation would enhance how production equipment on the seafloor is powered and controlled by applications on shore or platforms, lowering costs and enabling economically viable production at fields far offshore from existing infrastructure.

Under the new collaboration areas, ABB and Aker Solutions are joining forces on medium and high voltage subsea power distribution solutions, including associated topside equipment for offshore wind and power-from-shore. The companies will also work together on power distribution solutions for subsea consumers such as pumps and compressors.

Furthermore, the strategic alliance will include control, safety and automation solutions for subsea applications, as well as electrical, instrument, control, and telecommunications and power-from-shore for aquaculture.