Navigating the Challenges of Renewable Energy: A Glimpse into the Industry's Unsung Heroes
Marlena Szymanek
Board Advisor HR | Strategic HR Consulting | Sourcing and recruitment expert | #offshore #heavyengineerign #shipbuilding#windindustry #bluecollars
As the world increasingly embraces renewable energy sources to combat climate change and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, the renewable energy sector is undeniably at the forefront of technological innovation and sustainable development. While the potential of renewable energy to revolutionize our energy landscape is undeniable, the industry is not without its challenges.
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In a recent serch for inspiration, Equinor Ventures , Equinor , a leading global energy company, identified nine key challenges facing the renewable energy sector (you can find them all below and a link to the company page with all challenges)
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? Cost competitiveness: Despite significant advancements in renewable energy technology, the cost of renewable energy remains higher than traditional fossil fuels.
?? Grid integration: Integrating intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind power into existing grids poses significant challenges.
?? Storage limitations: The ability to store excess renewable energy for use when demand is high remains a critical hurdle.
?? Supply chain constraints: The growing demand for renewable energy components is putting a strain on supply chains, leading to delays and cost increases.
?? Public acceptance: Navigating public concerns over the visual impact of renewable energy projects and potential environmental impacts is crucial.
?? Land availability: Securing suitable land for renewable energy projects is becoming increasingly difficult, particularly in densely populated areas.
?? Skills gap: The renewable energy sector is facing a shortage of skilled workers with the expertise to design, construct, and maintain renewable energy projects.
? Government policy framework: Consistent and supportive government policies are essential to incentivize investment in renewable energy and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
?? International cooperation: Addressing the global challenges of climate change requires international cooperation and collaboration on renewable energy development and deployment.
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While these challenges may seem daunting, they also represent opportunities for innovation and progress. The renewable energy sector is home to some of the brightest minds and most passionate individuals who are committed to overcoming these obstacles and realizing the full potential of renewable energy. Their dedication and ingenuity are an inspiration, reminding us that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, human ingenuity can pave the way for a brighter future.
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Take a look at incredible work done by Equinor team and who knows if you might not be the one who will resolve it .
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? Problem 1: Lack of geological information 50-70 meters below
the seabed!
?Why is this a problem?
?Currently we lack detailed knowledge of geological formations, before submitting a tender, meaning that we and our investors, operators and contractors face increased costs and risk of delays, since the piling costs in unfavourable geological conditions are substantially higher than in good conditions.
?Today’s geophysical and geotechnical tools need to be improved, to enable them to detect large boulders and challenging conditions as far down as 70 metres.
?How can we eliminate this investment risk? Are you able to contribute to solving this challenge?
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? Problem 2: Service Operation Vessels (SOV) costs and operational limitations
?Why is this a problem?
?Many of today’s Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) are too large, and have limited operating hours, and are unable to operate or transfer personnel and equipment to the turbines in difficult weather conditions and hours of darkness.
?Furthermore, they cannot handle subsea tasks and remote operations with underwater drones, and are not equipped with facilities for charging drones.
?How can we execute the necessary surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and maintenance whenever necessary and at lower cost?
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? Problem 3: Costly damage to offshore wind farm subsea cables
?Frequent damage to offshore cables leads to increased costs and challenging operative reliability. How can we: prevent damage to offshore cables and/or
?efficiently and effectively repair damage or even transfer energy without cables?
?Build on the root causes of the current damage mechanisms, and propose an installation-friendly solution with the lowest possible Levelised Cost Of Energy (LCOE).
? Problem 4: Floating offshore wind turbine moorings
?Why is this a problem?
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?Floating offshore wind turbines are difficult and expensive to moor. Current industry practice is that floating offshore wind turbines are kept in place using several moorings. However, there are not enough factories available for production or ships for installation to meet the 2030 climate targets set by the energy industry.
The industry needs an alternative positioning system for wind turbines to flexibly adapt to wave systems while remaining in the same place in all types of weather.
?How should we keep them in place?
? Problem 5: Underwater intervention drone communication
Why is this a problem?
?Underwater intervention drones could significantly increase efficiencies on offshore activities but are limited by the short communication range subsea.
?There is a trade-off between bandwidth and range, where increasing the bandwidth decreases the range, and vice versa.
?Currently, typical high range/low bandwidth under water is 20-40
?metres, limiting underwater drone range and operation.
How can we increase both the range and the bandwidth between subsea units?
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? Problem 6: Accumulated oxygen hazard in green hydrogen production
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Why is this a problem?
Surplus oxygen resulting from green hydrogen production is a safety hazard, due to the explosion risk. The high content of oxygen in confined spaces in an industrial setting introduces a major risk to ignition and explosion, and there will be significant quantities of surplus oxygen resulting from green hydrogen production.
Therefore we need a smarter way to utilise it and generate commercial value, rather than simply releasing it to the air.
How can this oxygen be captured and stored safely? Or utilized without storage for other applications?
? Problem 7: Making CO2 into a commercially viable product
Why is this a problem?
?Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)/Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage (CCUS) projects are expected to become a significant part of our business in the coming years, but would be a waste of resources if CO2 could be utilised in a sustainable setting.
?CCS & CCUS projects will extract large quantities of CO2 from air, sea and produced natural gas.
Stored CO2 has no commercial value, so utilisation would be preferable.
?What can we do with captured CO2 to make it into a commercially valuable product?
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? Problem 8:Autonomy, interoperability & robotics - condition monitoring
?Why is this a problem?
Condition monitoring of facility equipment is often unprecise, unreliable and expensive, with potentially disastrous consequences. Unpredictable problems can go undetected by human monitoring, leading to costly unplanned maintenance and mundane, uninspiring jobs.
Each individual machine and component has its own specific acoustical ‘fingerprint’ that can reveal its actual condition in real time.?
How might sound be used to autonomously determine the actual condition of production and industrial equipment?
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? Problem 9: Creating and maintaining digital twins
?Why is this a problem?
Digital twins are invaluable, but many of our onshore plants lack good quality 3D models. Greater detail is needed, but creating and maintaining digital twins is expensive and time consuming.
?Currently, many of our new initiatives rely on 3D models and digital twins, but a lack of models is limiting the opportunities and value creation of these projects.
?We are seeking ways to build and improve 3D models of assets, linking objects to their respective tags and technical documentation.
?How can we effectively improve our digital twins as fast as possible?
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Marlena
The energy transition is indeed a complex challenge that requires multifaceted solutions beyond individual actions—this article highlights the critical need for innovation and systemic change in the industry.