Impact assessment of addition, removal and repurposing of subsea storage and infrastructure on biological marine ecosystems.

Reynolds, Jemma

Abstract

In response to energy and environmental problems, the proportion of renewable energy production is increasing in the current energy system. However renewable energy such as wind and solar have some local limitations and supply-demand inefficiencies. Therefore, it is necessary to have suitable secondary storage systems in place. Hydrogen is a good source for secondary energy. In an industry of increasing demand it is important to consider a circular approach to the infrastructure already in place and being developed. Hydrogen gas is a clean alternative to natural gas (Civan 2004). It is the most abundant chemical in the world and contributes to 75% of the mass of the universe. This is an energy source that we can exploit endlessly and it can be produced in many ways. The demand for hydrogen has grown more than threefold since 1975. Investment plans and governments worldwide have committed more than 70billion USD in public funding to date. Hydrogen storage development will combat the issues regarding the intermittency associated renewable energy production, help balance gird supply and support the transport infrastructure. The use of subsea infrastructure for the use of gaseous hydrogen storage poses numerous questions. Due to the characteristics of hydrogen and its permeability the infrastructure composition is crucial to minimizing the impacts of the storage infrastructure on the marine environment. The unknown effects of high compression/pressure vessels subsea need investigating. Along with the increasing production and storage needs for hydrogen, alternative options for CCUS are required to help meet governmental targets. Carbon dioxide is a gas that is very well understood (Plasynski et al. 2009), however the alternative storage installations available, such as subsea depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, have little research surrounding the long-term impacts of the infrastructure and the biodiversity and ecosystems surrounding these structures. The repurposing of traditional oil and gas infrastructure is a key part of the energy transition as in many cases it is more cost effective to adapt infrastructure already in place than remove and install new infrastructure. However, in some case the removal of infrastructure is inevitable, such as pipeline concrete mattresses. The process of removal has been found to displace many marine ecosystems. This paper will asses the subsea storage options for hydrogen and CCUS and will include scenario planning for each option. The areas of uncertainty for marine ecosystems is essential part of the energy transition that needs to be understood in order to develop larger scale solutions.

Citation

REYNOLDS, J. 2022. Impact assessment of addition, removal and repurposing of subsea storage and infrastructure on biological marine ecosystems. Presented at the 2022 Structures in the marine environment conferences (SIME 2022), 7 June 2022, Edinburgh, UK.

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: 2022 Structures in the marine environment conferences (SIME 2022)
• Start Date: Jun 7, 2022
• Deposit Date: Feb 6, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 2, 2024
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Subsea structures; Marine ecosystems; Sustainable energy solutions
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2234885