Small wind turbines recognised in the oil and gas industry

24 September 2008

Wind is increasingly the preferred option for the oil and gas industry as it is the fastest growing technology. This industry is constantly blamed for global warming and now some of the companies are replacing their diesel generators with wind turbines. Oil rigs and petrol stations worldwide use small wind turbines to power their facilities.

Small wind turbines recognised in the oil and gas industry

This has seen the small wind industry attending Energy events and specialist oil and gas conferences across the globe. Small scale wind turbine manufacturers, Proven Energy Ltd, attend these events and have already installed turbines for companies such as Shell and BP.

The Aberdeen All Energy event, which is the UK’s largest renewable energy exhibition and conference, has seen many wind turbine manufacturers in attendance. Proven Energy Ltd, who supply robust, reliable, small turbines exhibited here and at global events like Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas and the Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) in Stavanger, Norway. What was most evident at these events was the demand for renewable, innovative solutions. So much so, that at the ONS event in Norway, they created a renewable energy park to deal with the demand.

Proven Energy manufacture an explosive proof turbine (ex rated, SIRA certified/ ATEX zones 1 &2) which are already in use on a Shell offshore oil rig and BP’s petrol stations. Proven Energy turbines went through two years of rigorous offshore testing to ensure their reliability in a very hostile environment. Shell now benefit from a continuous reliable energy supply and have quick payback. Instead of using diesel generators, wind turbines generate electricity consistently in harsh weather conditions. Furthermore, because of the turbine success, Shell has ordered 16 Proven 2.5 Ex turbines to date. Additionally, in response to a national requirement to reduce CO₂ emissions, BP sought after Proven Energy because of their dependability, safety and durability. The project has made the BP petrol station less reliant on the national grid.

Andrew McMullan commented “We see ourselves as pioneers to introduce small wind to the oil and gas industry, a market in high demand for innovative solutions. Our turbines require servicing only once annually and once every two years for offshore, so there is little or no disruption to public service or unmanned rigs”

Renewable energy continues to grow rapidly. Government pressure to cut CO₂ gases will ensure that renewable energy companies will be more prevalent at energy exhibitions in the future.