Bilfinger, Schneider Electric develop renewable-powered offshore tech in North Sea
Schneider Electric and industrial services company Bilfinger have developed what they describe as the world’s first autonomous floating offshore installation powered by a renewable energy microgrid, resulting in a potential new approach to developing remote offshore oil and gas assets.
The project, commissioned by Buoyant Production Technologies (BPT), a subsidiary of Crondall Energy, centres on a Normally Unattended Installation (NUI) buoy in the North Sea that can generate its own power, manage subsea control systems and operate without permanent personnel or a connection to a host platform.
The demonstrator, which entered service in late 2025, has completed more than 1,000 hours of autonomous operations and achieved technology qualification within 10 months of contract award.
Targeting complex operations
Offshore operators are now targeting smaller, more remote, and deeper water reservoirs, meaning that traditional tie-back developments often rely on long umbilicals or manned platforms to provide power and communications from a host platform. These solutions can be costly and carbon intensive, while putting workers at risk.
The NUI buoy can address these challenges by replacing the long-distance architecture with a compact floating facility. This facility can generate power locally from a combination of sources like solar, wind, battery storage, and diesel backup generation.
Bilfinger was tasked with designing architecture capable of supporting fully autonomous operations in harsh offshore environments. To achieve this, the company deployed Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxture Automation Expert platform, which is an industrial automation system.
Enhancing interoperability
Traditional automation systems are often linked to proprietary software, meaning it can be difficult to separate hardware and software. However, EcoStruxture can de-link applications from hardware, allowing operators to integrate technologies from multiple vendors.
“Traditional automation architectures make customisation very difficult, especially for first-of-its-kind projects,” said Steven Parkinson, Automation, Production and Service Director at Bilfinger UK, adding that “This approach simplified integration between renewable power generation, remote operation and autonomous control, while overcoming the long lead times, high capital costs and limited flexibility associated with traditional infrastructure.”
The buoy’s control and power system incorporates Schneider Electric’s Modicon M580 controller, a separate renewable energy microgrid controller, and AVEVA software for visualisation, data management, and analytics. Communications are maintained through 5G and Starlink connectivity, while safety systems include fire, gas, and smoke detection alongside a layered cybersecurity framework.
Accelerating digital transformation solutions
According to Bilfinger, the platform can integrate subsea equipment while maintaining reliable control and power supply for critical assets such as valves, compressors, and pumps.
The project also reflects a broader industry trend towards digitalisation and low carbon solutions. By generating power locally, the technology could aid in lowering emissions in offshore operations.
“This project proves a new operating model for offshore assets and supports our mission to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries,” said Devan Pillay, President of Heavy Industries at Schneider Electric.
“Our close collaboration with Bilfinger and the adoption of open, software-defined automation were critical to a successful and timely delivery,” Pillay said, adding, “The real opportunity now lies in replicating and scaling this approach across future assets to enable a lower-carbon offshore industry.”
The two companies believe the technology could be adapted for various environments and be deployed globally.
