Development of sustainable pathways to integrate offshore wind with emerging and existing offshore technologies and infrastructure in the UK

Offshore wind provides a near limitless potential of renewable energy yet currently
supplies only 0.3% global power generation [1]. With the largest installed capacity of
offshore wind in the world, the United Kingdom leads the sector and have committed
to the significant increase of installed capacity from 30GW to 40GW by 2030 [2]. To
facilitate this rapid acceleration of growth within the sector it is essential that the
potential capacity is harnessed in a timely and considerate manner. Traditionally, the
primary route to market is as an independent source of electricity (inc. fixed bottom
wind turbines). However, an emerging route, offshore wind as supplementary energy
source to a primary technology (inc. wind turbines powering oil platforms) offers an
alternative opportunity for the integration of offshore wind into the rapidly diversifying
offshore energy sector.
This opportunity is recognised by Oil and Gas Authority who seek to harmonise the
offshore energy sector through cooperation with Crown Estate and Crown Estate
Scotland. To this aim, the aforementioned authorities have developed a new
interactive map of the North Sea unifying offshore wind locations with wave and tidal
sites as well as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and Petroleum licenses [3].
Growing synergies and transparency with the oil and gas sector will aid emerging
offshore wind technologies when leveraging existing offshore infrastructure whilst
potentially delaying decommissioning (through the repurposing of platforms,
pipelines and ports). As 5% of well-head production is consumed by oil and gas
platforms globally, producing 200 million tonnes of CO2 annually, emissions may
also be reduced [4]. The collaboration of offshore wind with other
technologies/sectors is not limited to oil and gas. In conjunction with green hydrogen
and CCS, offshore wind can be used to abate the emissions of historically
challenging sectors such as heating, transport and industry by providing a clean fuel
source [5,6]. The success of potential synergies would hinge on the socio-technical
feasibility of the projects. As means of measurement, the UNFC pillars of socioeconomic and environmental viability; technical readiness; and confidence in
estimates offer a comprehensive reporting method [7]. Given the contemporary
nature of potential synergies, assessment of the technical feasibility is paramount.
By decompartmentalising offshore wind, explicit technology dependant targets can
be set ensuring tangible progress of current and pipeline projects. This is achieved
by: (1) critically analysing barriers of deployment, categorised as per the UNFC
pillars, and mitigating solutions, (2) quantifying the potential installed capacity/impact
of offshore wind technological collaborations (namely oil and gas, CCS and green
hydrogen), and (3) projecting the growth of offshore wind in the UK as per differing
technological deployment pathways. Through industry engagement, the anticipated
conclusion of this research is a series of projections incorporating a considerate
blend of deployment strategies. This contribution to the limited existing literature will
aid policy makers, companies and financiers with deployment strategies both in the
United Kingdom and worldwide. With an abundance of natural resources, rapidly
decreasing levelized costs of energy, and early mover advantage, offshore wind will
be a vital component in the UK's energy mix in the coming decade provided clear,
defined pathways to deployment are established.