EU-SCORES Project to Deliver ‘World-first’ Bankable Hybrid Offshore Marine Energy Parks
The €45 million marine energy project – European SCalable Offshore Renewable Energy Sources (EU-SCORES) – will pave the way for bankable hybrid offshore parks across Europe by 2025. Under the project lead of the Dutch Marine Energy Centre (DMEC), EU-SCORES will unlock the large-scale potential of wind, wave, and offshore solar systems.
EU-SCORES brings together leading wave energy and offshore solar PV technology providers, CorPower Ocean and Oceans of Energy, major project developers RWE, EDP, ENEL Green Power, Simply Blue Group, and research institutions to unlock large-scale potential of combined wind, wave, and offshore solar systems in sites across Portugal and Belgium.
The current global annual electricity consumption is about 21,000 TWh and is predicted to double by 2050, with a growing population and GDP. Efficient and effective use of offshore renewables is pivotal in the EU’s transition towards a net-zero economy in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, underpinned by an ambitious target of reaching 230-440 GW and 40GW installed capacity of offshore wind and ocean energy by 2050, respectively.
Starting in September 2021, the project will build on two highly comprehensive and impactful demonstrations: (1) A wave energy array in Portugal co-located with an offshore wind farm and; (2) An offshore solar PV system in Belgium co-located with a bottom fixed windfarm. The project will run until August 2025 supported by €34.8 million in funding from the European Green Deal in the last Horizon 2020 call.
The multi-source demonstrations in EU-SCORES will showcase the benefits of more consistent power output harnessing complementary power sources including waves, wind, and sun, creating a more resilient and stable power system, higher capacity factors and a lower total cost of the power system. These aspects will also improve the business case for green hydrogen production, by allowing electrolysers to run at higher utilisation. Major project developers and utility companies will further strengthen demonstration efforts, paving the way for future large-scale commercialization of hybrid wave-wind-solar parks.
“We are delighted to be part of this truly pan European initiative addressing one of the most important topics of our time, implementing new solutions to accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy. We see great value in showcasing the highly consistent and complementary power profile of wave energy, and how this can be combined with wind and solar to deliver a more stable and predictable electricity system based purely on renewables. By generating electricity also when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine, wave energy can help fill the gaps and thereby become an important part of the mix to stabilize future electricity system”, said Kevin Rebenius, Commercial Director at CorPower Ocean.
Energy system modelling to quantify the value of the combined offshore energy sources will be led by LUT University. The demonstrations will also prove how the increased power output and capacity installed per km2 will reduce the amount of marine space needed, thereby leaving more space for aquaculture, fisheries, shipping routes and environmentally protected zones. Additional benefits achieved by co-using critical electrical infrastructures and exploring advanced operation and maintenance methodologies supported by innovative autonomous systems will further lower the costs per MWh. Moreover, the project demonstrations will support the stability and resilience of the European energy system, while considering sustainability, local stakeholders, and existing ecosystems.
“For a successful energy transition, we have to move fast without jeopardizing the reliability of our electricity grid. EU-SCORES can be a game changer doing so. The multi-use of offshore space presents a favourable business case with major potential to accelerate the transition, while the hybrid approach will enable more reliable electricity provision,” Benjamin Lehner, Project Portfolio Manager DMEC, added.
“We have very high expectations from the EU-SCORES project, which perfectly fits with our aim to realise the Green Deal. They show great ambition by demonstrating different energy sources considering efficient use of the seas and their success will support the clean energy transition,” Matthijs Soede, Senior Policy Officer at European Commission DG Research, outlined.
EU-SCORES consortium partners
The EU-SCORES consortium partners are: Dutch Marine Energy Centre (DMEC), Oceans of Energy, TU Delft, SBM offshore, POM West-Vlaanderen (POM), RWE Renewables (RWE), CorPower Ocean, Uppsala University, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT), Enel Green Power, RINA offshore consultants, INNOSEA – a AqualisBraemar LOC Group company, EDP Labelec, WavEC Offshore Renewables, INESC TEC, Exceedence, Western Star Wave – a Simply Blue Group company.
Also supported by: IRO (Association of Dutch Suppliers in the Offshore Energy Industry), ENECO Group, Redes Enérgeticas Nacionais, Parkwind, Ocean Winds, Energie Baden-Württemberg.
