Storage News

ClassNK has issued a type approval certificate for the lithium-ion storage battery system ORCA Energy, developed by Corvus Energy.Following an application from Corvus Energy, ClassNK carried out an examination of ORCA Energy based on the rule and the ‘Guidance for the Approval and Type Approval of Materials and Equipment for Marine Use’.The guidance applies to tests and inspections of materials and equipment for marine use for which advance approval or type approval by ClassNK is required by the relevant requirements in its rules.Upon confirming it complies with the prescribed requirements…

A growing number of oil tankers across Europe have been unable to unload their cargo over the past month as refining demand crashes, turning them into de facto floating storage, according to shipping data and trading sources.European refineries have had to cut runs after measures put in place to contain the coronavirus outbreak crushed fuel demand.More than 25 tankers with roughly 18 million barrels onboard were anchored near European ports, with most them already there for over a week as of Thursday…

The discount on front-month Brent crude oil futures to later contracts increased to an 11 year high on Thursday, as the coronavirus pandemic continued to cause an unprecedented slump in global demand. The spread on the May to November contracts had widened to as much as minus $10.31 per barrel at 1004 GMT, a level not seen since January 2009. The so-called contango market structure implies traders expect oil prices to be higher in the future, in this case when the virus pandemic has hopefully passed, leading them to store crude onshore or in some cases at sea.

Mocean Energy, global wave energy player, has teamed up with energy major Chrysaor, subsea energy storage experts EC-OG and AUV specialist Modus in a project to look at using renewables for subsea power.The project, funded by the partners together with the Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC), will look to use Mocean Energy’s Blue Star wave energy converter and EC-OG’s HALO subsea energy storage system to power subsea tiebacks or residential AUVs.If industry feedback is positive, the partners will press ahead with a technology field trial using a Mocean Energy prototype in the seas off Orkney later this year.Once proven, these technologies could provide vital backup power in case of umbilical failure…

Corvus Energy, the large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) provider for marine industry, has been awarded a contract to supply batteries for new fuel-efficient hybrid port cranes to be used by a US port authority to reduce emissions, fuel costs and noise.The contract to supply Corvus Orca Energy Storage Systems (ESS) for 25 new battery-hybrid Rubber Tyre Gantry (RTG) cranes is with CCCC Shanghai Equipment Engineering (CCCCSEE) and ZPMC.The battery-hybrid RTG cranes will be deployed by the South Carolina Port Authority (SCPA), where they are expected to reduce fuel consumption by up to 65% compared to conventional diesel-electric port cranes.CCCCSEE will fit two sets of Corvus battery-based ESSs onto each of 25 RTG cranes manufactured by ZPMC…

The Norwegian-Canadian designer and manufacturer of energy storage solutions for marine propulsion Corvus Energy announced that it has signed a contract with SEC Marine Ltd, UK to supply the energy storage system (ESS) for the world’s first hybrid surface effect ship (SES) for crew transfer.The development of the 22m hybrid SES for use as a crew transfer vessel is in response to an industry-wide push to develop and deploy innovative technologies that reduce CO2 emissions, while cost-effectively servicing windfarms located offshore.The vessel design has been developed in partnership with the operator CWind and ESNA, a ship design company based in Kristiansand…

Masirah Oil, an exploration and production company operating Block 50 offshore Oman, has awarded a contract to Wings Offshore for a floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel, which will be used on a field located offshore Oman.Masirah said it had awarded the FSO contract to Wings Offshore for the Mt Bull Papua, which is an Aframax tanker with a storage capacity of 750,000 barrels.The FSO will be used to store crude oil that will be produced during the early appraisal phase of the Yumna field in Block 50 Oman.Drilling of the Yumna 1 appraisal well is planned to start in December 2019, it said.Masirah Oil holds a 100 per cent interest in Block 50 Oman.

The floating production systems market worldwide is projected to grow by US$85.1 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 19.5%.Floating production storage offloading (FPSO), one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 19.9%, said a report by ResearchAndMarkets.The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market.Poised to reach over US$77 Billion by the year 2025, Floating Production Storage offloading (FPSO) will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 21% growth momentum.

Danish shipping giant Maersk will install a containerized 600 kWh marine battery system on board the 4,500 TEU Maersk Cape Town in December 2019 to improve vessel performance and reliability while reducing CO2 emissions.“This trial will provide a greater understanding of energy storage that will support Maersk in moving towards further electrification of its fleet and port terminals. Maersk will continue to facilitate, test, and develop low-carbon solutions on our journey to become carbon neutral by 2050,” explains Søren Toft, Maersk COO.Propelling marine vessels with battery power alone is still years away from being a technically- and economically viable option.

Carbon capture and storage under the seabed is recognized as one tool in climate change mitigation. An International Maritime Organization (IMO) treaty, the London Protocol, provides the basis in international environmental law to allow CO2 storage.This week, a proposal to agree the early application of an amendment to allow sub-seabed geological formations for sequestration projects to be shared across national boundaries will be put before Parties to the London Protocol (LP) and its forerunner, the London Convention (LC).It would remove a barrier for countries which wish to make use of carbon capture and storage - but which do not have ready access to offshore storage sites within their national boundaries.

GE Renewable Energy, the renewable energy arm of US industrial technology giant General Electric, announced its plan to make 100 percent of its operations carbon neutral by the end of 2020.GE Renewable Energy will reach carbon neutrality by reducing emissions through operational efficiencies, securing renewable electricity supply to all GE Renewable Energy sites throughout its operations for wind, offshore wind, hydropower, energy storage and grid businesses – and balancing remaining emissions with the purchase of carbon offsets to achieve a net-zero footprint.Jérôme Pécresse, CEO, GE Renewable Energy said, “This is a decision that makes business sense. Energy efficiency, waste reduction, and renewable power sources will ultimately combine to lower the operating costs of our business.

Maersk’s subsidiary Maersk Oil Trading has teamed up with Dutch liquid bulk storage operator Koole Terminals for the production of IMO 2020-compliant bunker fuel in the Port of Rotterdam.According to a Maersk statement, the production will take place at the Petrochemical Industrial Distillation (PID) unit, located at Koole’s Botlek site in the heart of the Port of Rotterdam. The toll distillation deal allows Maersk to produce VLSFO bunker fuel and will enable Maersk to further expand its bunker supply volumes in Europe.Annual production is expected to cover 5-10% of Maersk’s annual fuel demand.“The fuel manufacturing process allows Maersk to produce compatible low sulfur fuels that complies with the IMO 2020 sulfur cap implementation…

In Washington state, Tidewater Transportation and Terminals inaugurated a $12.5 million ethanol unloading and storage site in Pasco to serve the Columbia and Snake River regions.On Tuesday, August 27, more than 60 area notables, members of the business community, and terminal personnel gathered mid-afternoon for a ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration of the company’s state-of-the-art, onsite ethanol unloading and storage facility in Pasco.The facility consists of a 24-hour ethanol unit train railcar unloading rack with 24 new unloading stations and associated rail spurs. In addition, two 65,000-barrel steel tanks were built in order to provide reliable operating storage when an ethanol unit train arrives.

Hoegh LNG on its first ever sale and leaseback deal with China Construction Bank Financial Leasing (CCBFL) for its tenth Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU), the Hoegh Galleon, which was delivered yesterday (August 27) and has been taken back on charter by Hoegh LNG for twelve years.Following the completion of the transaction, Hoegh LNG is now fully funded with both equity and debt for its current newbuilding program, which will be completed with the delivery of Hoegh Galleon in August 2019.The Hoegh Galleon has been employed on an 18-months interim LNGC time charter with Cheniere before its intended long-term charter with AIE in Australia…

Corvus Energy, a provider of energy storage solutions for marine, oil & gas and port applications, announced that DNV GL and Corvus Energy have completed the DNV GL Manufacturer Product Quality Assessment (MPQA) and have signed a Manufacturing Survey Arrangement (MSA), resulting in streamlined quality control processes and faster customer deliveries.Under the terms of the MSA, Corvus Energy has been granted the ability to witness the Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) at its plant in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, without the presence of a DNV GL surveyor.“We are honored to be the first battery or energy storage system manufacturer in the world to be approved for MSA certification…

Canadian-Norwegian battery maker Corvus Energy announced that it has finalized an investment deal with Shell Ventures.The investment is a step towards Shell’s ambition to decrease the carbon footprint of the energy products they sell by around 20% by 2035 and by around 50% by 2050, in step with society.Corvus Energy,  the developer and supplier of advanced energy storage systems (ESS) for maritime, offshore, subsea and port applications, said that the investment will help Corvus Energy expand internationally and further enhance its technological leadership within maritime energy storage.Corvus Energy has delivered ESSs for more than 30 offshore support vessels…

The marine energy storage and battery company Plan B Energy Storage (PBES) and power generation company Sterling and Wilson have announced a strategic partnership agreement.The agreement, which involves Sterling and Wilson acquiring a significant portion of PBES equity, provides a vehicle to stabilize PBES and move the company forward in its marine electric and hybrid energy storage business, while providing a critical and strategic component in Sterling and Wilson’s portfolio.“Sterling and Wilson is an exceptional strategic partner for PBES,” said Brent Perry, CEO at PBES.“Their outstanding organization and understanding of large power systems make them an ideal partner strategically, as well as financially, in supporting us in taking PBES to the next level.

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has received an order for the construction of a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit on the condition that the client receives approval from its partner and government.The contract worth KRW 1.1 trillion (US$963 million) has been signed with an unnamed Asian shipowner, said a report in Yonhap. The FPSO will be constructed at its main shipyard in Geoje, some 330 kilometers south of Seoul, the company said in a regulatory filing.Although Samsung Heavy didn't announce the name of the Asian customer, Yonhap, qouting industry sources, said that its FPSO will be used for Indian energy giant Reliance Industries' MJ deep-water gas and condensate project off India's east coast.Including the newest contract…

2019 is set to be the biggest year for constructed and commissioned utility Photovoltaics (PV) (2200 MW), wind (2400 MW) and storage (100 MW) in Australia, said Rystad Energy in its forecast for the utility scale PV, wind and storage to be constructed and commissioned for Australia to 2020.This follows a record year in 2018, which was the first year in which over 1 GW of utility PV, wind & storage was constructed and commissioned, it said.The news was not all good in 2018, several utility PV and wind projects were delayed as commissioning took longer than expected, the fallout from Australia’s largest solar EPC to date (RCR) going into administration…

Qatar-based Shipyard, Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM) has recently received its first floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) project at the Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard.The FSRU owned by Excelerate Energy (USA) will undergo drydocking, maintenance and upgrades at the facility, which is renowned for its expertise in handling gas carriers.During its drydocking, the FSRU will undergo several modifications and retrofitting of new systems, including the installation of a ballast water treatment system (BWTS). To date, N-KOM has completed six such BWTS installations for various types of vessels such as LNG and LPG vessels as well as very large crude carriers (VLCCs).Nakilat Chief Executive Officer Eng.

Battery manufacturer Corvus Energy will supply a 550kWh Energy Storage System (ESS) for a new all-electric skimmer workboat.The new vessel designed for efficient collection of trash at the water surface will operate in Norway’s Port of Oslo."The ESS will allow the boat to be in full working mode for four to five hours, and a full battery charge will take just 2 hours. In addition, the vessel has solar panels on board," said a press note from the company.The vessel will be a replacement for the current litter skimmer boat Pelikan which during the course of 30 years has picked up about 1,500 tons of trash from the Oslo harbour water surface.The 12-metre long aluminum vessel will be built by Grovfjord Mek. Verksted (GMV).

US-based LNG solutions company Excelerate Energy's  Northeast Gateway Deepwater Terminal (Northeast Gateway), located offshore Boston, reached a peak send-out flow rate of over 800,000 MMBTU per day of natural gas on February 1, 2019, a first for the terminal.The operation was completed by two of Excelerate’s floating storage regasification units (FSRUs), Exemplar and Express discharging in parallel through Excelerate’s proprietary offshore buoys.During the coldest days of the year, demand for natural gas from residential customers rises in New England. Historically, during these times, as natural gas deliverability becomes constrained…

Wartsila has won a 6 MW energy storage project contract for the Caribbean island of Bonaire from ContourGlobal Bonaire, a subsidiary of London based ContourGlobal.The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) hybrid energy project includes both the hardware, consisting of batteries and inverters, as well as GEMS, the energy management software from Greensmith Energy, a Wartsila company."The energy storage system will enable Bonaire, part of the Netherlands Antilles, to increase its use of renewable energy such as wind and solar. In order to integrate more renewable energy and its intermittent nature, the Wärtsilä energy storage solution will provide the grid stability and reliability required for the island…