Archives des Blog - GEPS Techno Innovative offshore power buoys for the Blue Economy Fri, 15 Dec 2023 14:39:06 +0000 en-EN hourly 1 https://geps-techno.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-favicon-32x32.jpg Archives des Blog - GEPS Techno 32 32 naval drones: control the threat, capitalize on the opportunities https://geps-techno.com/en/naval-drones-control-the-threat-capitalize-on-the-opportunities/ Fri, 15 Dec 2023 07:25:25 +0000 https://geps-techno.com/?p=3378 The vast expanses of the oceans provide an ideal environment for terrorist groups to carry out their illegal activities. Trafficking in arms, drugs and people, as well as direct attacks on civilian and military vessels, piracy, hostage-taking at sea and hijacking, are all manifestations of this persistent threat. Terrorist groups also exploit weaknesses in port infrastructure and security systems, jeopardizing national economies and regional stability.

L’article naval drones: control the threat, capitalize on the opportunities est apparu en premier sur GEPS Techno.

]]>
The Ukrainian war, the Red Sea attacks, gas pipelines, submarine cables, drug trafficking… In recent years, the emergence of naval drones, whether underwater, surface or airborne, has changed the nature and origin of threats to our maritime spaces. Coastal states are therefore called upon to adapt their approach to maritime surveillance. But these new tools also represent an opportunity to ensure wider, more discreet and less costly surveillance of areas far from their exclusive economic zone.
@Naval-group

I. The challenges of maritime defense and security

Struggle for influence

The geopolitics of the oceans have been the subject of intense conflict and confrontation for decades. The five oceans, representing 70% of the Earth’s surface, are a key strategic area for international actors. These strategic zones are host to a vast range of food resources (fisheries) and marine energy resources (oil and gas, offshore wind power). The oceans are also zones of significant maritime traffic, with “maritime roads” including the Transpacific, the Transatlantic and the Asia-Europe axis. An estimated 80% of products are transported on these maritime roads. They are physically linked to each other by international straits and passages, through which thousands of ships circulate freely without hindering the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Finally, 99% of the world’s data traffic (Internet and telephony) is carried by submarine cables.

These maritime areas are strategic zones. They represent major geopolitical issues, with territorial claims, resource conflicts and international tensions. Maritime defense is vital to every nation in order to protect and secure its own interests.

Carte des routes maritimes, grands passages et zones stratégique du commerce international
©F. Turbout, MRSH Caen, Université de Caen Normandie, 2020

Asymmetric threats

The vast expanses of the oceans provide an ideal environment for terrorist groups to carry out their illegal activities. Trafficking in arms, drugs and people, as well as direct attacks on civilian and military vessels, piracy, hostage-taking at sea and hijacking, are all manifestations of this persistent threat. Terrorist groups also exploit weaknesses in port infrastructure and security systems, jeopardizing national economies and regional stability.

[Recent news]

11.06.2023

Russian Subsea Telecoms Cable Damaged In Baltic Sea

Finnish authorities said Monday that a Russian telecommunications cable in the Baltic Sea was discovered damaged in October, roughly coinciding with damage to subsea infrastructure in Sweden and Finland.

10.12.2023

Finland police investigate undersea gas pipeline leak as possible sabotage

HELSINKI (AP) — Finnish police said Wednesday they have launched a criminal investigation into possible sabotage of an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia that was shut down over the weekend following a leak.

09.28.22

2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage

On 26 September 2022, a series of clandestine bombings and subsequent underwater gas leaks occurred on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipelines.

II. New technologies

The deployment of broadband networks at sea will enable ultra-fast, reliable communications between land and drones (surface and airborne), even when they are far from the coast. Today, Starlink is poised to revolutionize communications with land. The multiplicity of satellites offers ever-greater coverage and increases the reliability of connected solutions.
Interface Starlink
©Starlink interface

Advanced detection systems

New-generation sonar sensors and underwater listening systems enable precise detection of potential threats, even in acoustically complex environments. These are groundbreaking technologies for which THALES has the know-how and confidence of the French Navy. There are currently 2 types of sonar: passive and active. Passive sonar is designed to listen to the sounds of the sea. The second, active sonar, emits waves that reflect off surfaces, enabling the distance and shape detected to be estimated. Sonar complementarity is essential in the face of innovations from stealthy submarine manufacturers.

Acoustic sensors under development: hydrophones

Hydrophones play an essential role in maritime safety by providing advanced underwater detection capabilities. These sensitive devices are designed to pick up sound signals underwater, enabling constant monitoring of maritime activities. Hydrophones are used to detect sonar emissions from military submarines, to monitor ship movements, or even to detect the presence of oil slicks following spills. They are also used in tsunami early warning systems, as they can detect the powerful underwater seismic waves that precede these devastating events. All in all, hydrophones are crucial tools in tune with maritime safety needs.

Naval drones

Aerial drones

The maritime transposition of the land-based aerial drone, this is undoubtedly the most mature technology on the market. Aerial drones, which look like helicopters, take up the challenge of remote piloting and extreme precision in automatic docking on surface vessels in all sea states. Innovations may lie in improved autonomy, connectivity or cybersecurity.
Use cases: Thanks to these functionalities, they can closely monitor maritime activities, detect suspicious vessels, and even assist rescue operations in the event of an emergency. Other applications include inspection and maintenance, cetacean detection, pollution detection, etc.

Exemple :

Schiebel’s COMCOPTER® S-100 industrial drone is a benchmark in aerial drone design. It is currently being tested and developed with Thales and the Royal Navy for factory acceptance (FAT) and wider deployment with the armed forces.

Drone - ©Schiebel CAMCOPTER® S-100

Surface drones

Called “Unmanned Surface Vessel” (USV), these drones are autonomous vessels equipped with advanced navigation and detection technologies. They are capable of operating autonomously while complying with international maritime regulations. These unmanned vessels represent a major advance in the maritime world. These surface drones are very discreet and difficult to detect by radar.

Use cases: Used as early as the Second World War as a remotely operated target vehicle and minesweeper, today they are used more in oceanography and environmental monitoring, as well as in freight transport and military applications. Various other applications are also being explored.

Exemple :

The “DriX” is a hydrophobic surface-supervised UAV (USV) designed for maritime mapping in French waters. In the future, it will be offered for military applications. “DriX has proven to be a real game-changer. (…) The defense world has quickly identified it as a real asset with high added value that ensures the safety of crews”, explains iXblue.
Photo drone de surface DriX
DriX Surface drones (© IXBLUE)

Underwater drone

Underwater drones are capable of operating autonomously at depths of several hundred meters. They are the most complex to implement due to technical obstacles such as energy management and limited underwater communication. These vehicles, remotely controlled and sometimes totally isolated from all communications with Earth, are totally autonomous. They are therefore pre-programmed with a precise mission, a target to be reached, a zone to be covered, and so on.
Use cases: Underwater drones will cover various missions on a variety of strategic points. These range from port infrastructures, bridges, dikes, dams, pipelines, locks and offshore structures. These camera- and sonar-equipped underwater drones will be able to inspect the submerged parts of structures and detect any damage.

Exemple :

FlatFish, developed by SAIPEM, is an advanced underwater drone capable of autonomously carrying out complex inspections of subsea assets across the entire underwater domain, thanks to its integrated artificial intelligence, advanced navigation functions and payload-based modularity.

Flatfish de Saipem
Drone Flatfish ©Saipem

III. Disruptive innovations - Imagining future innovations

The future of maritime safety looks bright, with many technological and technical innovations set to improve safety at sea. Here’s a look at some of the future advances expected in this field:

Using the Internet of Things (IoT) for environmental and marine monitoring

“IoT” sensors will be used more widely to monitor the water through dense meshing. These require a connection and extensive Internet broadcasting off the coast. It is also a major energy challenge to ensure a continuous connection and therefore a reliable data reading in real time. At present, projects such as PRACTI SEAS, led by Quimper-based Kenta , are underway. Its aim is to standardize the use of IoT on all ships in order to develop a more reliable network.

GEPS Techno

These future technological and technical innovations will contribute to enhancing maritime safety, protecting the marine environment, and improving the security of maritime operations. It is in this context that GEPS Techno strives to develop innovative technologies. Solutions that meet the challenges of energy production in isolated environments, in line with France’s maritime safety strategy. Since July 2023, the design office has been working to answer the following questions: How to detect drones on the surface, in the air and under the sea? Or, how can these new systems be deployed in the open sea over the long term?
 
These sonar technologies, innovative sensors, docking stations and submarine/airborne/surface drones all need a power supply to operate, as well as a high-speed communication link. These technical solutions must operate continuously to meet maritime safety requirements. At a distance from the coast, they cannot be powered and run on fuel, requiring human recharging. We therefore need to find an energy-producing, autonomous solution capable of storing this energy and retransmitting it in a continuous stream to power these sensors.

More news .

L’article naval drones: control the threat, capitalize on the opportunities est apparu en premier sur GEPS Techno.

]]> The deep sea : France in pole position to explore https://geps-techno.com/en/the-deep-sea-france-in-pole-position-to-explore/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 06:55:37 +0000 https://geps-techno.com/?p=3086 The international community is focused on the deep sea to meet the ecological challenges and human demands. There is a growing interest in this vast and still poorly explored area, where only 10% of living species have been recorded. France is at the forefront of this exploratory field, with potential still undefined in many fields.

L’article The deep sea : France in pole position to explore est apparu en premier sur GEPS Techno.

]]>
Deep-sea ©Studio Garnier

The international community is focused on the deep sea to meet the ecological challenges and human demands. There is a growing interest in this vast and still poorly explored area, where only 10% of living species have been recorded. France is at the forefront of this exploratory field, with potential still undefined in many fields. Science, marine energy, biodiversity and health all take inspiration from different environments, but what about the deep seabed ? What is the potential of the deep sea for humanity ? What can be found more than 1,000 metres underwater ? Who are the players in this new market ?

What is the deep sea ?

VectorMine via iStockphoto

The depth of the oceans is classified into 5 distinct submarine zones, 3 of which are defined as deep-sea zones. The epipelagic zone, 0-200 m deep, lies on the continental shelf. The mesopelagic zone, home to a million recorded marine species, lies between 200-1000 m.

The bathypelagic zone is still a shadow area today. It covers a depth of between 1,000 and 4,000 metres and is the starting point for the deep ocean, along with 2 other zones: the abyssopelagic zone (> 4,000 metres) and the hadal zone (> 6,000 metres). These deep seas represent 88.1% of the ocean floor, or more than 320 million square kilometres that have yet to be explored, according to the Fondation de la mer (Fondation de la Mer, 2022).

Defined as being 1000 m underwater, the deep sea is a place where there is a total absence of light, extreme cold and high pressure. More usually described as the abyss, the deep sea occupies two-thirds of planet Earth. The deep sea has unique characteristics. They have a cold, stable temperature, extreme pressure, total darkness, bioluminescence, vast expanses of flat seabed and low levels of dissolved oxygen. It’s an environment like no other on planet Earth, making it a still unknown territory.

A potential reserve of biological and mineral wealth​

Sometimes considered to be the cradle of life, the deep seabed is potentially an extremely rich biological and mining reserve. The economic, ecological and environmental issues involved are significant. 

A limitless biological resource

In complete opposition with photosynthesis, which was then perceived as the motor of life, a discovery made in 1977 called into question the assumption that there was an inert zone where photosynthesis could not be present. The discovery of microbacterial chemosynthesis demonstrated that abyssal species develop thanks to the chemical energy released by hydrothermal vents (Sarradin et al., 2017). A fauna with complex characteristics, a source of potential solutions for science.  Scientist Kerry Hawell supports the idea of a radiant future, with considerable potential for science and health. The new molecules could be the source of an revolution in antibiotic treatment, which has not evolved for more than 30 years, creating a massive addiction.  The number of deaths from drug resistance could reach ten million people a year by 2050. Marine sponges possess an antibiotic reservoir of as yet unknown bacterial origin, which could become the new strain of tomorrow’s drugs (Howell, 2021b).

A limitless biological resource

A large variety of living organisms are inspiring thinking on an industrial dimension. The halmonas titanica, for example, metabolises iron and represents an interesting avenue of research into the degradation and management of shipwrecks that have fallen to the bottom of the ocean. These as yet unknown marine species represent 90% of the species present on the ocean floor.

A limitless biological resource

These mineral resources are located in 3 potential environments that have already been identified : 

► Polymetallic nodules are found in the abyssal plains (at depths of between 4,000 and 6,000 metres).  They are rich in rare metals, including manganese, copper, nickel and cobalt.

► Cobalt crusts are massive deposits that can reach a layer of 25 cm. These deposits, rich in iron and manganese oxides, are thought to be the result of a chemical reaction. There is 3 times more cobalt than in the other identified sources, which makes it a special name: cobalt crusts.

► Hydrothermal vents, also known as black smokers, are the result of marine water heated to several thousand degrees through rock fissures in the direct proximity of the magma chamber. As this water drains away, it releases mainly iron sulphide, base metals (copper, zinc, lead) and precious metals (silver and gold).

These seabed resources are generally composed of earths and rare metals (cobalt, lithium and nickel). Onshore reserves of these various metals, particularly cobalt, are considered critical by the European Union. Their availability in large quantities and the fact that they do not require massive and polluting extraction, unlike terrestrial extraction, make them a coveted potential source. These rare earths and metals also play a part in the world of tomorrow and are essential for speeding up the energy transition. New green energies need rare metals for their construction. In 2023, it is estimated that seventeen kilos of rare earths will be needed to build a wind turbine.

These areas are still largely unexplored

Infographie Le Monde

Bathymetric measurements provide a better understanding of the depths of the ocean. These scientific maps also reveal areas of strategic interest. The world’s oceans continue to be unexplored territory beyond a depth of 1,000 metres. The IAMF, based in Jamaica, is the regulatory authority for deep-sea exploration. To date (July 2023), it has granted 31 exploration licences, 19 of which are in the Clarion-Clipperton zone.

This zone is particularly defined, as it is identified as one of the 5 lines of the North Pacific floor. Otherwise known as the ocean bill, it is around 7,240 km long and covers some 4,500,000 square kilometres. A source of life and wealth coveted by many international players, including France, which has a licence until 2026.

The singular position of France

France has the largest deep-water exclusive economic zone in the world. More than 10 million square kilometres are located below a depth of 1,000 metres, or 93% of the total surface area of the French seabed. Second place goes to the United States EEZ. France therefore has a major responsibility towards future generations.                                         

France has launched its “Grands Fonds Marins” plan as part of its France 2030 strategy. The plan is designed to map, monitor, explore and investigate the French seabed. This initiative is part of an overall approach designed to meet the operational needs of maritime governance and, more generally, to contribute to operational oceanography. This call for deep-sea projects aims to support the emergence of innovative solutions, with a budget of €25 million.

The French government and Mercator-Ocean (Spain, Italy, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and France) are also working together to create a digital twin of the ocean. Seabed2023 is a large-scale project to “design the most effective ways to restore and protect marine and coastal habitats, support sustainable markets for the blue economy, and mitigate and adapt to climate change” (Digital Twin of the Ocean – Mercator Ocean – Ocean Forecasters, 2023).

Challenges and new technologies

“We know less about the seabed than we do about the surface of the Moon and Mars.  (5)(Mapping the Gaps in Our Ocean Knowledge with Seabed 2030, n. d.). In 2023, the deep ocean will be a new challenge for the international community. In 2023, only five people (Jacques Piccard, Don Walsh, James Cameron, Victor Vescovo and Kathryn Sullivan) will have plumbed to the heart of the Marianne Trench at 10,971 metres (the deepest place in the ocean). The moon currently has 12 visitors.

France has the material and human resources needed to explore these deep waters. Its French oceanographic fleet, including ifremer’s manned submarine Nautile, explores waters to a maximum depth of -6034 metres. Robots and AUVs are also part of the ultra-sophisticated equipment used for oceanographic exploration. However, there are still technical constraints. The opacity of the water, the pressure 1,000 times greater than that of the atmosphere, and the lack of precise mapping are all obstacles to these explorations. The energy required to operate existing solutions also limits the efficiency of some equipment. These solutions reduce exploration times and consume large quantities of battery power. These solutions are the focus of a constant R&D effort.

Many companies are working to remove the technical obstacles and open the doors to this mystery world. The means of exploration, such as remotely operated vehicles able to travel at depths of over 3,000 metres, are extremely limited. What’s more, they have to be deployed from a surface vessel with which they maintain a cable link for power and control, limiting missions in time and space. 

One solution under study would be to set up permanent autonomous stations for power supply and communication at great depths. These stations, connected by a dynamic cable to a surface buoy capable of both producing energy and communicating with land, could serve as a starting point for the long-term deployment of autonomous instruments and vehicles without a support vessel. GEPS Techno and its partner Acergy France are currently working on this new concept. The first tests of such a station could take place as early as 2025 in a trench in the Mediterranean.

Sources

►  Rapport : Fondation de la Mer – Les grands fonds marins | 2022

► Sarradin, P., Sarrazin, J. & Lallier, F. (2017). Les impacts environnementaux de l’exploitation minière des fonds marins : un état des lieux des connaissances. Annales des Mines – Responsabilité et environnement, 85, 30-34. https://doi.org/10.3917/re1.085.0030

► Howell, K. (2021c). Deep-sea Discovery – Mining marine environments for novel biologics. https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/18455

► Digital Twin of the Ocean – Mercator Océan – Ocean Forecasters. (2023, 21 juin). Mercator Océan – Ocean Forecasters. https://www.mercator-ocean.eu/digital-twin-ocean/

► Mapping the gaps in our ocean knowledge with Seabed 2030. (s. d.). https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/jun22/seabed-2030.html

L’article The deep sea : France in pole position to explore est apparu en premier sur GEPS Techno.

]]> Le captage et le stockage du carbone : une solution prometteuse pour décarboner les industries https://geps-techno.com/en/le-captage-et-le-stockage-du-carbone-une-solution-prometteuse-pour-la-decarbonisation/ Wed, 05 Jul 2023 10:27:17 +0000 https://geps-techno.com/?p=2829 Les projets de captage et de stockage du carbone en mer gagnent du terrain dans le monde entier. Ces projets constituent l’une des réponses pertinentes au changement climatique. Depuis plusieurs décennies, les chercheurs, les entreprises, les associations et les pouvoirs publics s’efforcent de trouver des solutions viables pour capturer économiquement le CO2 et le transporter […]

L’article Le captage et le stockage du carbone : une solution prometteuse pour décarboner les industries est apparu en premier sur GEPS Techno.

]]>

Les projets de captage et de stockage du carbone en mer gagnent du terrain dans le monde entier. Ces projets constituent l’une des réponses pertinentes au changement climatique. Depuis plusieurs décennies, les chercheurs, les entreprises, les associations et les pouvoirs publics s’efforcent de trouver des solutions viables pour capturer économiquement le CO2 et le transporter et le stocker en toute sécurité dans des réservoirs géologiques. L’industrie, soutenue par les gouvernements, se prépare maintenant à un déploiement massif pour atteindre les objectifs de neutralité carbone.

carbone capture and storage ©Studio Garnier

Un outil pour atteindre les objectifs de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre

Le captage et le stockage du carbone désigne le processus de captage du CO2 à partir de sources ponctuelles importantes (production d’électricité, installations industrielles), de sa compression, de son transport par pipeline ou par bateau et de son injection dans des réservoirs géologiques naturels en vue d’un stockage permanent.

Le CSC est une option intéressante à moyen terme pour les grands émetteurs qui n’ont pas encore accès aux énergies renouvelables. A plus long terme, cela pourrait devenir une solution de neutralité carbone en capturant directement le CO2 dans l’air, ou lorsqu’il est combiné à la production d’électricité à partir de la biomasse.

Le CSC est une solution mature, qui est par exemple utilisée depuis 1996 sur le plateau continental norvégien en mer du Nord (projet de captage et de stockage du carbone Sleipner – Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)). Aujourd’hui, les installations existantes ont la capacité de capturer plus de 40 millions de tonnes de CO2 par an dans le monde. Cependant, elles ont été principalement déployées pour la séquestration du CO2 pendant le traitement du gaz naturel (28,5 MtCO2/an), alors que la production d’électricité ou d’acier ne représente que 2,4 Mt/an et 0,8 Mt/an respectivement (source : About CCUS – Analysis – IEA).

Captage et stockage du carbone : un marché naissant aux ambitions immenses

L’évolution actuelle des prix du marché du CO2, combinée au soutien croissant des gouvernements et aux progrès technologiques, accélère le rythme de développement. De nombreux projets sont à l’étude pour un large éventail d’applications, notamment la modernisation des centrales électriques existantes, la production de masse d’hydrogène à faible teneur en carbone ou les industries lourdes (ciment, fer, acier, produits chimiques).

Le scénario de développement durable de l’AIE fixe les objectifs de capture de CO2 à 800 millions de tonnes par an en 2030 (x20 par rapport à 2021) et à près de 6 milliards de tonnes par an en 2050 pour atteindre les objectifs de neutralité carbone.

En Europe, environ 70 projets sont à différents stades de développement, les premières installations à grande échelle prenant forme. Dans la proposition de loi de la Commission européenne sur la neutralité énergétique de l’industrie, récemment révélée, le CSC est identifié comme l’une des huit technologies stratégiques de la neutralité énergétique, et un objectif de 50 millions de tonnes par an d’ici à 2030 est mentionné. La présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen, a également déclaré récemment à l’occasion de la première livraison de CO2 du projet danois Greensand : “C’est un grand moment pour l’Europe : “C’est un grand moment pour la transition verte de l’Europe et pour notre industrie des technologies propres. C’est la première fois qu’une chaîne de valeur complète est mise en place pour le captage et le stockage du carbone en Europe”. Greensand est en effet le premier projet de CSC dans l’Union, avec une capacité à court terme de 1,5 Mt/an et un plan de montée en puissance jusqu’à 8 Mt/an d’ici à 2030.

Northern Lights, en Norvège, est également un projet phare actuellement en phase de construction, avec une date de démarrage en 2024 (plus d’informations : Northern Lights (norlights.com)).

L'écosystème de l'industrie offshore se prépare

La plupart des réservoirs de stockage identifiés (réservoirs de pétrole et de gaz épuisés, aquifères salins) sont situés en mer, souvent à plus de cent kilomètres de la côte. L’industrie offshore est bien structurée pour accélérer la mise en place de la chaîne de valeur du transport et du stockage.

De grands acteurs comme Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies, BP, Wintershall, Neptune ou d’autres se positionnent en tant qu’opérateurs de T&S, tandis que des intégrateurs (Subsea7, TechnipFMC, McDermott, etc.) ou des fournisseurs de technologies sous-marines (OneSubsea, Aker Solution, Baker Hughes, Alcatel Subsea Networks, etc.) façonnent leur proposition de valeur avec des solutions innovantes telles que des systèmes de production sous-marins entièrement électriques ou des câbles DC/FO.

Un certain nombre de petits développeurs de technologies agiles proposent également des approches disruptives (par exemple SpotLight Earth pour la surveillance des réservoirs : Spotlight Earth | Sorry to disrupt (spotlight-earth.com)) pour pousser l’industrie vers des solutions plus simples lorsque les méthodes traditionnelles ne sont pas adaptées ou sont trop coûteuses.

La solution clé en main de GEPS Techno pour l'alimentation et la connexion des équipements sous-marins

Contrairement à la plupart des plateformes pétrolières et gazières en mer, les puits d’injection offshore de CSC ne peuvent pas compter sur le gaz produit pour leur alimentation électrique. De longs câbles de raccordement posés dans des tranchées, fournissent l’énergie (quelques kilowatts seulement) et les communications nécessaires pour contrôler les puits depuis la côte.

GEPS Techno développe une solution basée sur une bouée d’alimentation et de données amarrée à proximité des puits, récoltant l’énergie renouvelable de diverses sources marines (vent, vagues, soleil), connectée à la terre via une liaison satellite, et reliée à l’équipement sous-marin par un ombilical. Lorsque les puits sont situés à plusieurs kilomètres de la côte, cette approche peut changer la donne par rapport à une approche câblée.

Quelle est la suite ?

Un essai en mer est prévu cette année pour valider l’architecture. Un skid sous-marin sera connecté à la bouée Wavegem de GEPS. L’objectif est de valider la capacité de la bouée à fournir l’énergie nécessaire en récoltant l’énergie locale et à permettre la communication entre le skid sous-marin et une équipe de contrôle à terre. Ce test sera réalisé en partenariat avec Subsea7 et 4Subsea.

GEPS Techno s’engage à soutenir les intégrateurs en charge de la réalisation des études conceptuelles ou FEED afin de comparer la solution câble avec sa bouée de puissance. En fonction du scénario de demande d’énergie, différents types et tailles de bouées peuvent être proposés. L’objectif est de rendre le dossier commercial global plus solide et de réduire l’empreinte carbone du projet tout en assurant la fiabilité requise du système de surveillance et de contrôle.

Pour plus d’informations, contactez-nous : customerservice@geps-techno.com

Autres actualités :

L’article Le captage et le stockage du carbone : une solution prometteuse pour décarboner les industries est apparu en premier sur GEPS Techno.

]]> Carbon Capture and Storage : a promising solution to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries https://geps-techno.com/en/carbone-capture-and-storage/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 14:13:56 +0000 https://geps-techno.com/?p=2757 Offshore carbon capture and storage projects are gaining momentum around the world as one of the relevant responses to climate change. For many decades, researchers, companies, associations, and public authorities have been working towards viable solutions to economically capture and safely transport and store CO2 in geological reservoirs. The industry, backed by governments’ support, is now preparing for a massive deployment to reach the carbon neutrality objectives.

L’article Carbon Capture and Storage : a promising solution to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries est apparu en premier sur GEPS Techno.

]]>

Offshore carbon capture and storage projects are gaining momentum around the world as one of the relevant responses to climate change. For many decades, researchers, companies, associations, and public authorities have been working towards viable solutions to economically capture and safely transport and store CO2 in geological reservoirs. The industry, backed by governments’ support, is now preparing for a massive deployment to reach the carbon neutrality objectives. 

carbone capture and storage ©Studio Garnier

A tool to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction objectives

Carbon capture and storage refers to the process of capturing CO2 from large point sources (power generation, industrial facilities), compressing it, transporting by pipeline or ship and injecting it into natural geological reservoirs for permanent storage.

CCS is an interesting mid-term option for large scale emitters that have no access yet to renewable energies and could become a carbon-negative solution in the longer term when CO2 is directly captured from the air or when combined with power production from biomass.

CCS is a mature solution which is for example used since 1996 in the Norwegian Continental Shelf in the North Sea (Sleipner carbon capture and storage project | Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)). Today, existing facilities have the capacity to capture more than 40MtCO2 each year globally. However, it has been mainly deployed for sequestration of CO2 during natural gas processing (28.5MtCO2/y), while power generation or steel production only accounts for 2.4Mt/y and 0.8Mt/y respectively (source : About CCUS – Analysis – IEA).

Carbon Capture and Storage : a nascent market with huge ambitions

The current CO2 market price evolution combined with growing governments support and progress in technologies are accelerating the development pace. Many projects are under study for a wide range of applications including retrofit on existing power plants, low carbon hydrogen mass production, or heavy industries (cement, iron, steel, chemicals).

The IEA Sustainable Development Scenario sets global CO2 captured objectives to 800Mt/y in 2030 (x20 compared to 2021) and almost 6Gt/y in 2050 to reach the carbon neutrality objectives.

In Europe, around 70 projects are at various stages of development, with the first large scale facilities taking shape. In the EU Commission’s Net-Zero Industry Act proposal recently revealed, CCS is identified as one of the eight strategic NetZero technologies, and an objective of 50Mt/y by 2030 is mentioned. EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen also recently declared at Denmark’s Greensand project first CO2 shipment: “This is a big moment for Europe’s green transition, and for our clean tech industry. The first ever full value chain, for carbon capture and storage in Europe.” Greensand is indeed the first CCS project in the Union with 1.5 Mt/y short term capacity and a plan to ramp-up to 8 Mt/y by 2030.

Northern Lights in Norway is also a flagship project currently at construction stage, with a start date in 2024 (more information : Northern Lights (norlights.com)).

The offshore industry ecosystem getting ready

Most of the identified storage reservoirs (depleted oil&gas reservoirs, saline aquifers) are located offshore, quite often more than hundred kilometers from the coast. The offshore industry is well structured to accelerate the set-up of the transport and storage (T&S) value chain.

Big players such as Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies, BP, Wintershall, Neptune or others are taking position as T&S operators, while integrators (Subsea7, TechnipFMC, McDermott, etc.) or subsea technologies providers (OneSubsea, Aker Solution, Baker Hughes, Alcatel Subsea Networks, etc.) are shaping their value proposition with innovative solutions such as all-electric subsea production systems or DC/FO cables.

A number of small and agile technology developers are also proposing disruptive approaches (e.g. SpotLight Earth for reservoir monitoring : Spotlight Earth | Sorry to disrupt (spotlight-earth.com)) to push the industry towards simpler solutions when traditional methods may not be adapted or too expensive.

GEPS Techno’s plug-and-play solution to power and connect subsea equipment

Contrarily to most of the oil and gas offshore platforms, CCS offshore injection wells cannot rely on produced gas for power supply. Long tie-back cables, quite often trenched, are providing the power (only a few kilowatts) and communication needed to control the wells from shore.

GEPS Techno is developing a solution based on a power and data buoy moored closed to the wells, harvesting renewable energy from various marine sources (wind, wave, sun), connected to the shore via a satellite link, and connected to the subsea equipment with an umbilical. When the wells are located many miles away from shore, this approach can be a game changer compared to a cabled approach. 

What’s next?

A test in offshore conditions is planned this year to validate the architecture. A subsea skid will be connected to GEPS’ Wavegem power buoy. The objective is to validate the buoy can provide the required power by harvesting local energy and enable the communication link between the subsea skid and a shore-based control team. This test will be executed in partnership with Subsea7 and 4Subsea.

GEPS Techno is committed to support the integrators in charge of executing conceptual or FEED studies to benchmark the cable solution with its power buoy. Depending on the actual power demand scenario, different type and size of buoys may be proposed. Its objective is to make the overall business case more robust and reduce the project carbon footprint while achieving the required reliability of the monitoring and control system.

Get in touch for more details: customerservice@geps-techno.com

To learn more

L’article Carbon Capture and Storage : a promising solution to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries est apparu en premier sur GEPS Techno.

]]> Powering submarine cables across the ocean : the Meta case https://geps-techno.com/en/meta-power-buoy-submarine-cable/ Wed, 26 Oct 2022 08:47:54 +0000 https://geps-techno.com/?p=2279 Meta is partnering with GEPS Techno to find a solution for the remote powering of their future very high-capacity submarine cables.

L’article Powering submarine cables across the ocean : the Meta case est apparu en premier sur GEPS Techno.

]]>
Power buoy for submarine cables ©Syudio Garnier

Meta is partnering with GEPS Techno to find a solution for the remote powering of their future very high-capacity submarine cables.

The Internet being a key element in all aspects of our lives, the amount of data to be transported continues to increase. Companies like Meta (formerly-Facebook) continue to invest in their global network infrastructure, among which their submarine cable network.
In order to be able to drasctically increase the capacity of their future submarine cables, Meta asked GEPS Techno to find a solution for alternative remote powering.

Meta’s Needs : offshore power

►  An autonomous mid ocean power source to supplement their current land-based power sources in future large scale submarine fiber cable (SDM cables).

Key features :

    • Proven solution
    • Capable to autonomously provide and store 25 kw power for up 3 months

GEPS TECHNO Solution : a communication buoy

►Autonomous platform using a combination of wave power converters, solar panels and batteries.
Key features:

  • Proven solution : the proposed design is based on GEPS’ Wavegem Platform who then came back from a two years test at sea (and is now used by Lhyfe for the first offshore hydrogen production plant in the world).
  • Capacity and storage : GEPS’s autonomous platform design combines two different source of renewable energy : solar and wave power, along with batteries.

GEPS Techno was first contracted to study the feasibility of the platform. It has been proven feasible in 2021. From then on, META has been working with GEPS Techno on a detailed study.

“Powering is probably the biggest challenge we have to face at Meta fo the high-capacity internet subsea cables at the horizon 2025 – 2030. We started collaborating with GEPS Techno more than 2 years ago to demonstrate the feasibility of the PowerBuoy concept and we are now working towards a complete design. We enjoy this very fruitful collaboration!”

Herve Fevrier, Meta Global Optical Architect, 2020.

To learn more :

L’article Powering submarine cables across the ocean : the Meta case est apparu en premier sur GEPS Techno.

]]>