In focus: Energy transition steadily gaining pace across the globe

The offshore energy sector has this week witnessed the unwavering nature of energy transition which is bound to continue – hopefully at an accelerated pace – as the nature itself steps up its cries for protection by employing the ‘shock and awe’ tactics which set many areas of the world ablaze due to overwhelming heat caused by the climate change – which evidently is progressing at an accelerated rate.

In line with the grim predictions about the climate change and nature, and the ever-increasing negative effects on them caused by man-made pollution, the offshore energy sector is slowly but steadily shifting towards energy transition as showcased in a week behind us all across the world – from the United States, through Europe and Asia, all the way to Australia.

Starting with the United States, the country’s senators have introduced a bill to create offshore wind manufacturing tax credits aimed at advancing the manufacturing and offshore wind deployment.

The Offshore Wind American Manufacturing Act is expected to help create thousands of manufacturing jobs and ensure that the United States meets President Biden’s offshore wind goal of 30GW of offshore wind by 2030, the senators said.

Also, the U.S.-based oil and gas giant ExxonMobil has this week been suspended from the Climate Leadership Council as a backlash to the ‘scandal’ that took place several months back when the company’s lobbyist told an undercover activist ExxonMobil only backed a carbon tax as a PR stunt.

Even though ExxonMobil is one of its founding members, the Council – established as a bipartisan non-profit organization that advocates for a carbon fee and dividends policy that would tax carbon emission – decided to suspend the company stating: “We continue to believe that we will establish lasting climate solutions by bringing together a broad and diverse group of stakeholders who can work together to address this enormous challenge. This will continue to be our guiding principle”.

Another positive development for the energy transition comes from the United States with Texas-based marine robotics company Ocean Infinity acquiring the UK-based marine geotechnics firm Geowynd.

The acquisition comes as Ocean Infinity continues to develop its Armada robotic vessels to serve the offshore renewables industry with the provision of geophysical, geotechnical, operation and maintenance services.

Crossing the Atlantic to Europe, this week has seen several collaborations launched all in an effort to contribute to net-zero and decarbonizations efforts ongoing across the globe.

Namely, Icelandic power company HS Orka and UK-based joint venture Hydrogen Ventures Limited (H2V) have revealed plans to develop a production plant for green methanol using green hydrogen to power the marine sector.

The parties also said they plan to use this clean fuel to power domestic and commercial vehicles such as cars, vans and lorries. The project is expected to contribute to Iceland’s ambitious target of becoming carbon neutral by 2040.

Further down south of the continent, another collaborative project is looking to decarbonize mobility solutions through the deployment of a tidal turbine in southern Brittany in France, which will be coupled to a photovoltaic installation to provide power for an electric barge servicing an oyster farm.

The deployment that will see the installation of Guinard Energie’s P154 tidal turbine is part of an ERSEO project, funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), specifically for the development of new solutions for the production of renewable energies and carbon-free solutions for fishing professionals.

Way down under, in Australia, a new tie-up has been made with Japanese shipping heavyweight Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Australian energy company Origin Energy joining forces to study the prospects of green ammonia supply chain.

The joint study feasibility will look into how Australian green ammonia projects could supply key downstream markets, while also exploring the demand in Japan and Asia.

Since ammonia emits no CO2, it could there help meeting the 2050 carbon-neutrality targets, and make a great contribution to decarbonizing the marine transportation supply chain.