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Press Release11 February 2021Siemens EnergyMunich
Siemens Energy delivers energy storage solution for Maersk Drilling’s first hybrid, low-emission jack-up drilling rig
The Maersk Intrepid is being retrofitted with BlueVault batteries from Siemens Energy.
The batteries have enabled Maersk Drilling to
reduce the runtime of onboard combustion engines and maintain an operational
setpoint where energy efficiency is maximized. The initial data point shows
that Maersk Intrepid in the first month of operations with the full set of
upgrades installed was able to reduce CO
2 emissions by 25 percent
and NOx emissions by 95 percent compared to the baseline average for the rig.
“We’re thrilled to receive a
promising first data set on emission reductions,” said Caroline Alting, Head of
Integrity & Projects for Maersk Drilling. “It’s still too early to make any
definitive conclusions on average emission reductions over time, but the
preliminary results are promising with reductions around 25 percent compared to
the rig’s baseline, driven by both energy-saving technology and behavioral
changes supported by the low-emission package.”
The advanced BlueVault
battery system is suited for both all-electric and hybrid power applications
and is specifically designed to minimize emissions and ensure continuity of
power on offshore vessels. The solution has been installed on various marine
vessels worldwide, including the West Mira ultra-deep semi-submersible, the
world’s first low-emissions drilling rig to use lithium-ion energy storage.
Offshore rigs are ideally suited for hybrid
power plants, as they have highly variable power consumption for drilling,
dynamic positioning, and station keeping. The diesel-electric solution with
BlueVault energy storage will reduce the transient load on generator sets,
meaning that basic requirements can be met by fewer engines operating at a higher
load, thus decreasing carbon emissions.
The batteries' temperature is regulated with
a water-cooling system, which works as a passive safety layer to prevent thermal runaway. Another
differentiating feature is the system’s digitalized condition monitoring
system, which provides state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC)
transparency for individual cells to maximize the batteries’ performance and
lifespan.
Siemens
Energy also supplied BlueDrive power electronics and advanced monitoring
software.
“We are proud to contribute to Maersk
Drilling’s strategy to set a new industry standard for low-emission offshore
drilling and look forward to bringing this highly sustainable solution to
additional rigs in the future,” said Jennifer Hooper, Senior Vice President,
Industrial Applications Solutions for Siemens Energy.
Siemens Energy’s advanced BlueVault battery system is suited for both all-electric and hybrid power applications and is specifically designed to minimize emissions and ensure continuity of power on offshore vessels.
Norwegian fund dedicated to reducing NOx emissions
Maersk
Drilling applied for project funding through the NOx Fund – a Norwegian fund
dedicated to reducing NOx emissions. The fund is contributing a grant of up to
80 percent of project costs (subject to verification of the emission-reducing
upgrades). It has high hopes that the ultra-harsh jack-ups will be a benchmark
for the offshore industry as it drives toward emissions reductions.
The global fleet of Jack-ups
is nearly 500 units. Siemens Energy believes that approximately 300 of these
may be eligible candidates for similar upgrades with BlueVault batteries. Upgrading all of these drilling rigs with batteries would potentially
reduce emissions by more than 1 million tons of CO
2 per year*,
equivalent to annual emissions from 725,000 automobiles**.
*) Estimate may differ due to different designs and sizes of rigs, with
different consumptions and emissions. The CJ70s are among the biggest units;
therefore, the savings are likely to be bigger than those applicable for
smaller rigs.
**) with an average of 15.000 km/year and an average of 120 Co2/km.
**) with an average of 15.000 km/year and an average of 120 Co2/km.
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Siemens Energy is one of the world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. With its portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers almost the entire energy value chain – from power generation and transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and transformers. More than 50 percent of the portfolio has already been decarbonized. A majority stake in the listed company Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens Energy. Siemens Energy employs more than 90,000 people worldwide in more than 90 countries and generated revenue of around €27.5 billion in fiscal year 2020.