ENGIE Laborelec will play a key role in theambitious FORWARD-2030 project, which isdesigned to demonstrate viability of a multi-vector zero-carbon energy system that combines wind and tidal energy with energy storage solutions and green hydrogenproduction.
The project has been awarded €20 million of funding from the European Commission’s Green Deal. We will lead the project’s critical Energy Management and Arrays work package (WP6).
Combining renewables and storage to create a stable zero-carbon baseload
The goal of the FORWARD-2030 project, which will run from 2021 to 2025, is to demonstrate how predictable tidal energy, wind generation, energy storage technology and green hydrogen production can be combined in a smart way so that a reliable and stable zero-carbon baseload can be injected into the grid.
Underlying goals include reducing the associated cost of energy and the life cycle carbon footprint of this type of installations, enhancing their environmental and societal acceptance, and improving commercial returns and energy system integration. ENGIE Laborelec takes part in the consortium as an industrial partner and the prime expert in combining different types of renewable energy with energy storage systems and grid integration.
Tidal energy, smart EMS, and forecasting
State-of-the-art tidal energy production will be installed, along with near-shore wind turbines and a variety of energy conversion and storage systems. ENGIE Laborelec’s role involves three crucial aspects:
Many years of experience in hybridized energy systems
Commenting on the award, Managing Director Michael Marique of ENGIE Laborelec says: “This project is a perfect illustration of the potential of hybridizing energy systems and integrating such solutions into the grid with the help of smart EMS.
The award therefore is a tremendous vote of confidence in our key strategic competences and our capacity to demonstrate viability of such a hybridized zero-carbon multi-vector energy system. ENGIE Laborelec has many years of experience in deploying hybridized energy systems in utilities and industrial sites, both onshore and offshore. Integration of advanced tidal energy solutions is crucial because we are convinced that this form of energy will be central in the offshore energy systems of the future.”
Seven Partners
The FORWARD-2030 project was awarded to a consortium of seven parties, including Orbital Marine Power (Scotland, UK), SKF (Sweden and Germany), ENGIE Laborelec (Belgium), the European Marine Energy Centre (Scotland, UK), University of Edinburgh (Scotland, UK), and University College Cork (Ireland).
It has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101037125.