Aberdeen-based JCE Energy has supplied a bespoke modular solar system to an unmanned installation owned by Norwegian petroleum company Aker BP.
The solar package will meet the year-round energy needs of the installation, which is currently under construction in the North Sea, instead of a diesel generator.
JCE Energy said its modular solar package has been designed and manufactured to address specific challenges of offshore operations in the North Sea, such as extreme weather conditions. It is designed for continuous use and houses all the essentials programmable logic controllers (PLC) and batteries in one containerized unit, built at the company’s Aberdeen factory.
This is what a project spokesperson said pv magazine that, compared to a 1 kW stand-alone diesel generator, the solar system will save more than GBP 50,000 ($62,570) and reduce fuel consumption by approximately 9,000 liters.
The spokesperson said the solar panels will provide power until the unmanned installation connects to permanent power from the host platform in the Valhall oil field in the Norwegian part of the North Sea.
The modules are currently set to be removed once connected, although it is possible to retain them for certain systems. Production of the plant is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027.
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