The Perenco marine electrification project in collaboration with Porto do Açu is the first marine electrification project in the Campos Basin of Brazil. This project involves connecting the shallow clusters of Pargo and Chern to the shore via an 80-kilometer underwater cable. The main goal of this project is to replace local turbo generators with energy supplied from a stable grid that has the capacity to expand from 35 megawatts to 60 megawatts by early 2028.
Details of the Electrification Project
Porto do Açu serves as the site for the construction of the Perenco electrical grid connection and also provides the cable route from the coastal infrastructure station at Porto do Açu in São João da Barra, Rio de Janeiro, to the offshore fields. This agreement has been signed to supply energy from the shore to the shallow fields, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Perenco's operations in Brazil. Currently, the company's platforms in the Pargo and Chern clusters rely on locally produced energy.
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Goals and Implications of the Project
Eugênio Figueredo, CEO of Porto do Açu, stated: "Collaboration with Perenco strengthens Porto do Açu's position as a catalyst for low-carbon solutions in the oil and gas industry. Marine electrification projects of this scale are still rare globally and open a promising pathway for the Brazilian market." While the initial energy consumption forecast for this project is 35 megawatts, there is potential for expansion to 60 megawatts in the next four years. This system is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2028, and the operator may purchase energy from renewable sources in the open market.
Perenco will also build an infrastructure station within the port complex to receive energy from the grid, and the underwater cable will connect to the central platform in the Pargo cluster to distribute electricity to the operator's satellite units through the existing communication network. Damian Sezizka, CEO of Perenco Brazil, emphasized the importance of this project, saying: "The electrification project combines Perenco's innovative spirit with Porto do Açu's entrepreneurial drive. This project will serve as a benchmark for initiatives in ensuring energy supply and extending the lifespan of assets in the oil and gas industry." This marine electrification project is based on the existing records of Latin America's private industrial port in providing clean energy for marine operations. Starting in 2024, Vast Infraestrutura, along with Wilson Sons, will provide coastal energy to tugboats and support vessels stationed at Terminal 1 of Porto do Açu.
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