Brazil's Porto do Açu and Perenco Jointly Build Offshore Electrification Project, Set to Commence Operation in 2028
en.Wedoany.com Reported - Brazil's Porto do Açu and operator Perenco Brasil have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to jointly develop the first offshore platform electrification project in the Campos Basin.
Power supply will be delivered via an 80-kilometer submarine cable. The cable will run from the onshore substation at Porto do Açu in São João da Barra, Rio de Janeiro state, to Perenco's installations at the Pargo and Cherne hubs, both of which are located in shallow waters.
Under this arrangement, the port complex takes on three roles: providing a construction site for the onshore substation, connecting Perenco to the main power grid, and providing right-of-way for the cable from the substation to the offshore hubs. On the construction side, Perenco will build its own substation within the port area and receive power from the grid; after the submarine cable connects to the central platform at the Pargo hub, electricity will be distributed to the company's other installations through the existing interconnection network.
Currently, the platforms at both the Pargo and Cherne hubs rely on on-site power generation from turbine generators. The primary objective of the project is to reduce Scope 1 carbon emissions from Perenco's operations in Brazil.
In terms of power scale, the project is expected to initially require 35 megawatts, with the potential to expand to 60 megawatts within four years. The system is scheduled to commence operation in the first quarter of 2028, and Perenco may subsequently procure renewable energy from the free energy market.
Eugenio Figueiredo, CEO of Porto do Açu, stated that this collaboration with Perenco demonstrates Porto do Açu's catalytic role in low-carbon solutions for the oil and gas industry; he also noted that offshore electrification projects of this scale remain rare globally, opening up a promising pathway for the Brazilian market.
Damien Szyszka, General Manager of Perenco Brasil, emphasized that the project combines Perenco's innovative spirit with Porto do Açu's entrepreneurial drive, and will serve as a benchmark for the oil and gas industry—extending the production life of assets while reducing emission levels to safeguard energy security.
In addition to this electrification project, the Porto do Açu complex is advancing other initiatives to supply clean energy for maritime operations. Since 2024, Vast Infraestrutura has partnered with Wilson Sons to provide shore power for tugboats and auxiliary vessels berthing at Terminal 1 (T1) of Porto do Açu.
