Singapore’s HBA sees potential of strong wind propelled green energy complexes supporting Indian Renewable programmes
Strong winds across deep seas off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are most suitable for installing bigger wind turbines and produce 24X7 renewable energy at a competitive price under India’s multi-billion-dollar green energy programme.
The continuous energy production from such offshore farms makes the production of green ammonia and hydrogen viable and competitive, according to Anil Bhatia, Vice President for Renewable and Hybrid Energy at the Singapore-based HBA.
“Electricity in the range of Rs.8-12 per kWh is achievable from such a large-scale development ranging from the size of 12 MW to 18 MW,” said Bhatia at the Offshore South East Asia (OSEA) held 15-17 Nov 2022.
“We are closely monitoring potential projects as the Indian Government has recently issued a tender for a block of 4,000 MW wind energy development,” he said.
Bhatia also sees a massive cost savings in setting up offshore complexes producing green ammonia, especially the cable-cost to land the green energy onshore.
He compares the offshore mode of managing hydrogen-ammonia production and exports just like the way hydrocarbon production and shipments have been handled around platforms in deep water fields by the offshore oil and gas industry for many decades.
“We have the experience of handling such challenging projects,” said Bhatia, pointing out that HBA Offshore, set up in 2015 by floating, production, storage and offloading industry veteran Hassan Basma.
Globally, leading industrial groups are developing and are set to produce 15 MW and 18 MW wind turbines while 12 MW turbines are already operating in some of the major wind-energy producing regions, especially Europe.
Bhatia is confident of installing wind turbines of 12 MW to 18 MW in deep waters off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Using its experience of installing platforms and jackets of drilling rigs for petroleum industry, HBA has the advantage of handling such projects in strong wind conditions, he said, adding that HBA has combined individual experiences of several hundred years in handling regional and global offshore renewable and oil and gas projects.
With combined solar and wind energy production, India can be among the first few countries decarbonizing at full pace and even exporting green energy, he said.
As the global industrial groups are innovating and inventing large wind energy plants, HBA is also working on floating ammonia production and storage ship based on the many models it has built for offshore oil and gas projects and floating production storage and offloading vessels.
“By putting together the bigger wind turbines and ammonia ship, or even ships, we can produce most competitive green ammonia for India and export markets.”
Currently, India imports some 50 million tons of blue ammonia, produced out of petroleum, for its ever-expanding fertilizer needs, he noted.
“But what we see out there in deep seas, offshore production of green ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen which can then be used widely as a fuel in ships, replacing or supplementing coal in power plants to reduce the overcall carbon footprint.
The global shipping industry has set ‘green targets’ with newer ships being built to run on hybrid fuel while automobile industry has started producing electric vehicles and other renewable energy powered fuels as the world decarbonise. These are some of the major changes taking place globally at a fast pace, he added.
The Japanese, for examples, have already tested out ammonia for power plants, supplementing coal. Japan plans to import 3 million tons per year staring from 2026.
As pressure mounts from COP27, environmentalists and the governments’ closing in on their Net Zero targets, HBA has advanced its concepts into projects, he said, adding that a number of blocks have been set up for offshore deep water for wind energy complexes in the Southeast Asian region.
HBA is already working with authorities in Vietnam, Philippines’ and Japan on setting up offshore wind energy generating complexes.
“We are also talking to a number of Southeast Asian countries for implementing wind energy projects in deep waters.
“Our plans are to export green ammonia from these projects with India being one of the most attractive markets, given the insatiable ammonia demand especially from the fertilizer manufacturers,” said Bhatia, a naturalized Singaporean who have spent 40 years in energy fields working for international groups such as ABB.
He is confident of getting offtake contracts with India for green ammonia from complexes being built in Southeast Asian seas.
The Mumbai-born Master of Engineering from IIT Roorkee sees a paradigm shift in energy usage as world leaders have come forward to show strong support for the environment. fiinews.com
