REM: Shell commits to wave power, subsea energy storage demo off Scotland

Oil supermajor Shell has thrown its hat in the ring with the Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) collaborative project, to power subsea equipment off the coast of the Orkney Islands off Scotland with wave power and energy storage under the surface of the water.

French oil and gas rival TotalEnergies joined the collaboration in December.

The $2.5mn demonstration project – now under way for almost a year – has connected the Blue X wave energy converter, by Mocean of Edinburgh, and a Halo underwater battery storage system developed by intelligent energy management company Verlume of Aberdeen.

The project is to provide clean power and communications to subsea equipment, such as that in the oil and gas sector.

Baker Hughes, Harbour Energy, the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), PTTEP Serica Energy and Transmark Subsea are also collaborating in the project.

Shell will have access to data from the demo and a feasibility assessment of using the RSP technology at another location if it so chooses.

Oil and gas supermajors are trying to green themselves and reduce costs as the energy transition continues.