Clean Fuel News

LCF Member in the News: Power project at Gulf oil port yields climate benefits, officials say

Originally posted by Keith Magill | March 11, 2020 | Houma Today | Original Article

Entergy has extended its power grid to serve ships docking at Port Fourchon so they no longer burn diesel while doing work at the Gulf of Mexico oilfield service hub.
The Louisiana utility and Edison Chouest Offshore partnered to build the first utility-scale shore power source at the port.

The power unit was developed by Entergy’s innovation department, KeyString Labs, to help customers to reach their own goals of reducing carbon emissions, which scientists say contribute to global warming.

In the past, ships at the port have run their engines or generators to supply power while docked.

Shore power in Entergy’s overall service area is estimated to potentially achieve as much as a 42% net reduction in carbon emissions, a 48% net reduction in sulfur oxides emissions and a 98% net reduction in nitrogen oxides emissions, company officials said in a news release.

“We’re proud to partner with Entergy Louisiana on what could become a model for ports across the world by adding value for customers and communities through significant emissions reductions,” said Dino Chouest, executive vice president of Galliano-based Edison Chouest Offshore, which operates ships and docking facilities at the port. “It’s a win for everyone.”

The initial installation extends Entergy Louisiana’s local distribution system to simultaneously accommodate 10 Edison Chouest ships at port. The boat company developed technology that allows vessels to seamlessly transition from fossil-fuel-generated ship power to cleaner electric-grid power.

“We believe that marine electrification will be an important part of enabling our operations and the operations of our customers to be competitive and sustainable in the future,” Chouest said.
The project will also help the utility company achieve its climate goals, said Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana president and CEO.

In 2001, Entergy Corporation became the first U.S. electric utility to voluntarily commit to capping greenhouse gas emissions. And recently, the company committed to reducing its carbon emission rate by 50% below year 2000 levels by 2030.

In Louisiana, Entergy will buy power from the 50-megawatt Capital Region Solar facility in West Baton Rouge Parish once completed this summer. This new, clean-power resource will add to Entergy Louisiana’s approximately 190 megawatts of renewable resources, which include run-of-river hydropower, biomass and waste heat recovery.

“We are eager to partner with our customers to innovate and scale products and services that create benefits for our entire customer base and the communities we serve,” said Rod West, utility group president for Entergy Corporation.

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