Houlder collaborates with Blue Sea Power on floating LNG power barges
Houlder has been collaborating with Athens-based Blue Sea Power, to develop three floating LNG-to-power barges (FSRPs).
The FSRP barges, will efficiently provide greener, lower emission baseload and peak power to the non-interconnected Greek islands of Kos, Chios and Lesvos. This power will be used when existing renewable solar and wind energy utilisation is at its technical limits. The barges will replace the outdated and inefficient existing diesel and heavy fuel oil power generation infrastructure, whilst meeting the EU Taxonomy and new Greek Climate legislation.
Houlder has completed the barge designs to a level that has achieved approval in principle by class society, Lloyd’s Register, and is supporting Blue Sea Power with the design package for securing suitable tenders from shipyards. In this phase Houlder completed the design of the LNG systems, stability structure and arrangements as well as dynamic mooring assessment of the barge for the specific locations. .
To adhere to ambitious EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions requirements, the barges must generate power efficiently. According to EU Taxonomy regulations on GHG emissions for new power plants in Greece, the limit is 270g of CO2 per e/kWh or a 20-year average of 550kgCo2/kWh. Houlder will incorporate innovative, specialist solutions to meet and even exceed these standards.
Blue Sea Power barge solutions are RRF (Reconciliation Recovery Fund) eligible, where EU funding will cover a substantial part of the CAPEX for these additional GHG reduction measures. As the projects are ESG compliant, the team has also leveraged green funding, which it has secured from multiple banks and investors to finance the project.
Although proven technologies are used, specific innovations will be included to improve efficiency. The technical solutions include maximising waste heat recovery from the exhaust and using waste heat recovery from the engine’s cooling water system for exportable freshwater generation.
The barges will incorporate supply of blends of bio-LNG and renewable synthetic e-LNG into the supply chain to further reduce GHG emissions.
Floating LNG power barges are greener than traditional power generation infrastructure and, with novel integrated design and engineering developments, we can make energy production even more efficient and sustainable.
Whilst the FSRP integrated power barge is a solution that may appear novel in its approach, the power barge utilises proven tried and tested equipment to reduce associated design and construction risks. The FSRP near-shore solution along with its modular design and shipyard construction also presents many repeatability benefit opportunities on CAPEX, OPEX and construction schedule savings.
Looking ahead, there is potential to develop many more barges and even scale up the projects to efficiently provide other Greek islands and EU locations with green energy.
Houlder has a proven track record in vessel design for LNG bunkering system and vessel design, floating LNG transfer terminals, and the design and engineering for LNG boil-off reliquefaction plant retrofits. Meet us at Gastech 2023 this week in Singapore – Senior Project Manager Gavin Forward will be in attendance throughout the entire week.