The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 10 ocean energy-related research projects to receive $1.3 million in funding. These projects will gain access to testing expertise, numerical modeling, laboratory testing, tank/tank testing and expertise within the TEAMER facility network. Applications for RFTS 12 are now open and the TEAMER program aims to accelerate the viability of marine renewable energy by providing the best facilities and expertise.
The Viking Link, the world's longest land and submarine power interconnector, is operational and carries electricity between the UK and Denmark. The $2.15 billion project, a joint venture between National Grid and Danish system operator Energinet, will connect Bicker Fen substation in Lincolnshire to Revsing substation in southern Jutland. The line will be able to carry enough electricity for up to 2.5 million British homes, saving British consumers more than £632 million ($500 million) cumulatively over the next decade thanks to cheaper power imported from Denmark. Construction began in 2019 and took more than 4 million man-hours.
TechnipFMC has been awarded a “significant” integrated engineering, procurement, construction and installation (iEPCI) contract by Petrobras for the delivery of the Mero 3 HISEP project in Brazil’s pre-salt fields. The contract covers the design, engineering, fabrication and installation of subsea equipment, including manifolds, pipelines, umbilicals, distribution and field service life. The contract is worth more than $1 billion and complies with research and development guidelines set by Petrobras. TechnipFMC has advanced the qualification of the core technologies required to fully subsea deliver the HISEP process, including gas separation systems and dense gas pumps.
Tracerco has secured a million-dollar contract in the Gulf of Mexico to deploy its pipeline inspection technology Discovery on multiple oil and gas platforms. The project is part of an agreement between three major U.S. oil and gas companies that operate different risers on multiple platforms. Developed using subsea CT scanning technology to provide critical flow assurance and integrity data without coating removal, Discovery is already in use on more than 100 oil and gas assets around the world.
The informal agreement outlines a revised Building Energy Performance Directive that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The directive requires all new buildings to achieve zero emissions and existing buildings to achieve zero emissions by 2030. Transform buildings to be zero-emission by 2050. The deadline for public buildings is 2028. The directive also requires EU member states to phase out fossil fuels in heating and cooling, with the goal of phasing out fossil fuel boilers by 2040.
Vienna is building Europe's largest green heat pump system and aims to become climate neutral by 2040. The scheme, which uses heat from wastewater at the Ebswien purification plant and electricity from the Freudenau hydroelectric power plant, is a pioneering initiative in Europe. The first phase of the project, which will cost around €70 million, will provide district heating to 56,000 homes. The three remaining large heat pumps are expected to double the system capacity by 2027, providing climate-neutral heating to 112,000 homes. Vienna's heating network is one of the largest in Europe.