Aker BP chose Hitachi Energy as its technology partner for the NOAKA power-from-shore project off the Norwegian coast. The entire project will be powered by up to 150 MW of power from the mainland grid—making it the world’s longest power-from-shore AC connection at around 250 km, according to Hitachi Energy.
A technology provider for power grids, Hitachi Energy will perform front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies for a power-quality solution that will enable the Aker BP-operated NOA Fulla field and the Equinor-operated Krafla field in the North Sea to be powered from the mainland. The contract includes an option for Hitachi Energy to deliver the power-quality solution when the FEED studies are completed.
The development concept for the area consists of a processing platform in the south operated by Aker BP and an unmanned processing platform in the north operated by Equinor with possibilities of several satellite platforms and tiebacks to cover the various discoveries.
To ensure the smooth, reliable, and safe transmission of electricity to the offshore platforms, Hitachi Energy said its solution combines two power-quality technologies that have never been used before for this type of application: a high-performance STATCOM, called SVC Light, and thyristor-controlled series capacitors. Its MACH control and protection system will enable the two technologies to work in harmony as a single synchronized solution.
Hitachi Energy’s proposed solution comprises a new grid connection to house the STATCOM, thyristor-controlled series capacitors, shunt reactors, and gas-insulated switchgear. The solution will also increase the transmission capacity of an existing 420-kV mainland grid connection with new gas-insulated switchgear and a power transformer.
Hitachi Energy supplied the world’s first long-distance power-from-shore installation in Norway in 2005 using its HVDC Light high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology. Since then, it has supplied four of the five HVDC power-from-shore installations, all of which supply platforms off the Norwegian coast.
In December 2021, Hitachi Energy won an order from Samsung C&T Corporation, an engineering and construction company, to connect ADNOC’s offshore operations to the onshore power grid in the UAE owned and operated by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA). The solution will deliver 3,200 MW of low-carbon power to two offshore production clusters, reducing the clusters’ emissions by up to 35%, Hitachi said.