Article has published by Power Engineering International
By Ian Crossland, Commercial Director, Mocean Energy
The UK has a unique opportunity to revolutionise its renewable energy strategy, and the answer may well lie in embracing hybrid offshore energy parks.
By integrating multiple technologies within the same offshore space, the country can maximise energy output, make better use of constrained grid capacity, and solidify its leadership in the global renewables sector.
Recent studies, most notably findings from the Climate Change Committee, have highlighted lengthy planning processes and a backlog of grid connection approvals as a major hurdle to renewables deployment. The long and short of it is that every available renewable energy source must be utilised to meet the country's ambitious net-zero targets.
Onshore, developers are already optimising land use by co-locating wind, solar, and battery storage facilities. It's an approach that enhances grid efficiency and ensures a steady energy supply and it's time to extend this logic to offshore through the creation of multi-use energy parks at sea.
The case for offshore hybrid energy parks
The UK is a global leader in offshore wind, with substantial fixed-bottom and floating wind farms in operation and more in development.
However, these projects require significant investment and time, often facing constraints related to grid capacity and supply chain limitations.
More than 12GW of tidal stream and wave energy capacity is forecast to the installed in the UK by 2050, a figure that equates to roughly 10% of offshore wind capacity.
Hybrid offshore parks present a solution by integrating complementary technologies like wave power, floating solar, and subsea energy storage alongside offshore wind.
A recent study found that combining wind and wave energy could reduce the cost of wind power by 17% by ensuring more consistent grid utilisation. Wave energy, though still in its relatively early stages, has the potential to complement wind by generating power during low-wind periods, reducing energy balancing costs by an estimated £1 billion ($1.26 billion) a year.
Scaling up deployment would drive costs down, just as we have seen with solar and wind over past decades. Given the UK's global leadership of tidal stream and wave energy - including domestic manufacturing capabilities and high local content - the sector could generate up to £8.8 billion ($11 billion) in Gross Value Added (GVA), with a further £32 billion ($40.4 billion) from exports, by 2050 if all projected deployments come to fruition.
A role for GB Energy and policy support
For hybrid offshore energy parks to succeed, coordinated action is required.
The Crown Estate, Crown Estate Scotland, and GB Energy could play pivotal roles in pre-consenting seabed areas for multiple technologies and ensuring that new leases encourage multi-technology integration.
Government policies, such as Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions, could further incentivise developers to incorporate emerging renewable solutions.
Starting with modest requirements, such as integrating 10MW of new technology per GW of offshore wind, could drive investment in the firms pioneering ocean energy. Similar models have succeeded in other nations, like the Netherlands, where floating solar projects have rapidly scaled due to clear policy support.
Striking the right balance for investors
While regulatory support is crucial, policymakers must ensure the investment climate remains attractive.
Excessive seabed lease fees or an overly cost-focused CfD mechanism could push investors elsewhere, jeopardising the UK's advantage in offshore renewables.
By embracing hybrid offshore energy parks, the UK can better utilise its seabed, enhance grid efficiency, and support the development of cutting-edge renewable technologies.
Now is the time for decisive government and sectoral action, one that secures a resilient and diversified energy future for the country while unlocking new economic opportunities in the global renewables market.
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