Blue Sea Power has joined forces with classification society LR to work on LNG-to-power projects using floating barges off three Greek islands.
Athens-based Blue Sea Power was established in 2021 to develop floating assets and particularly floating power generation units with storage and regasification capabilities (FSRP).
The units have a power generation capacity between 50 MW and 200 MW.
Now the firm has signed a framework agreement with LR under which the latter will provide classification and assurance services to three FSRPs, according to a joint statement on Thursday.
LR will initially provide the approval in principle service contract to the pre-FEED contract being delivered by Houlder, for a project to improve offshore alternative energy infrastructure, initially in the islands of Greece and then in other global locations.
H2 blending
The contract focuses on floating integrated energy solutions for three non-interconnected (NIIs) Greek islands – Kos, Lesbos and Chios.
According to the statement, the project, a first of its kind, will provide three FSRP barges for the islands.
The FSRP barges work as integrated floating power plants and would provide continuous uninterrupted power.
Also, the electricity production license granted by the Greek Regulator (RAE) is valid till 2056.
LR will class and contribute to the regulatory and safety compliance towards the final operations license, involving both the energy, environment and shipping authorities.
As part of the decarbonization direction to replace the HFO/diesel autonomous power plants and the latest EU taxonomy rules, the FSRP barges will use LNG, and eventually, bio-LNG in the barge storage tanks, the statement said.
The FSRP barges will also have the flexibility to support H2 blending capability, marking an “important milestone” as offshore energy and maritime transition to more sustainable fuels, it said.
“This project, in partnership with Blue Sea Power, will provide affordable power with a rapid development schedule, helping to connect the electricity grids of the three islands and is a big step on the path towards alternative offshore energy,” Anna Apostolopoulou, global floating offshore installations director at LR, said.
Konstantinos Mitropoulos, CEO of Blue Sea Power said the collaboration with LR as a “top tier 1 classification and technical advisor ensures the technical integrity of our innovative solution.”
Greek LNG imports to surge
Greece currently imports LNG via DESFA’s import terminal located on the island of Revithoussa.
However, the country will get new facilities as Europe looks to reduce reliance on Russian gas.
Greece’s Gastrade recently officially started building the country’s first FSRU-based project in Alexandroupolis.
Gastrade is also planning to install a second FSRU offshore Alexandroupolis and it won a license for this project.
Besides these developments Greece’s Motor Oil is working on the Dioriga Gas FSRU, while Mediterranean Gas, developer of an FSRU-based import project which includes ExxonMobil, received approval for its planned development in the port of Volos.
In addition, Elpedison, a power firm owned by Greece’s Hellenic Petroleum and Italy’s Edison, revealed plans to install an FSRU off Thessaloniki.