Houlder is collaborating with Blue Sea Power to develop three innovative floating LNG-to-power barges (FSRPs), to provide greener, lower emission baseload and peak power to the non-interconnected islands of Kos, Chios and Lesvos.
The FSRP barges, which are set to be operational by 2025, will produce energy that will be used when existing renewable solar and wind energy utilisation is at its technical limits.
The barges will replace the outdated and inefficient existing diesel and heavy fuel oil power generation infrastructure, whilst meeting the EU Taxonomy and new Greek Climate legislation.
In the current phase, Houlder will complete the barge designs to a level that will achieve approval in principle by the class society, Lloyd’s Register, and will support Blue Sea Power with the design package for securing suitable tenders from shipyards.
In a previous phase, Houlder completed the key decision studies on the main power generation engine selection, a cargo containment system, design standardisation, GHG reduction & efficiency options, and CAPEX, as well as an environmental study.
To adhere to ambitious EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions requirements, the barges must generate power efficiently. According to EU Taxonomy regulations on GHG emissions for new power plants in Greece, the limit is 270g of CO2 per e/kWh or a 20-year average of 550kgCo2/kWh.
The partners will use a cryogenic carbon capture system onboard the power barges. The engines used will be hydrogen production blend ready to further improve sustainability as the technology to enable this matures and there will be scope to factor and blend bio-LNG and renewable synthetic e-LNG into the supply chain to further reduce GHG emissions.
Jonathan Strachan, Houlder’s ship design and engineering director, commented: “The Blue Sea Power team has been a pleasure to work with and we are looking forward to the outcomes of this interesting project.
Whilst the FSRP integrated power barge is a solution that may appear novel in its approach, the power barge utilises proven tried and tested equipment to reduce associated design and construction risks
Mark Graham, Blue Sea Power Director of Projects, said.
