SBM Offshore has entered into a global collaboration agreement with Microsoft to develop standardized, AI-powered carbon-free floating power solutions to address the growing needs for reliable, affordable, carbon-free electricity. This collaboration is set to transform industrial electrification by combining SBM Offshore’s deep expertise in scalable ocean energy infrastructure and Microsoft’s leadership in AI, cloud computing and digital sustainability solutions.
The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of floating power generation units to meet the growing demand for clean, reliable and dispatchable electricity for electrification and regional grid integration, while overcoming the barriers of conventional solutions in decarbonizing industrial energy use.
The collaboration will explore new ways to integrate cloud-based solutions, advanced analytics and AI into floating power generation. Through AI-powered asset lifecycle assessment, real-time carbon measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) and predictive maintenance powered by Microsoft Copilot, Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry and Fabric, SBM Offshore’s floating solutions will enhance system reliability, optimize energy efficiency and flexibility, reduce time to commission and operational costs to boost clean energy.
The first phase of this collaboration will focus on deploying floating gas power solutions with integrated Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) and Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), leveraging SBM Offshore’s collaboration with Norway’s Ocean-Power AS. This model is also expected to serve as a blueprint for global expansion, supporting energy security and decarbonization objectives across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.
SBM Offshore’s CBO Olivier Icyk, said: 'We are excited to announce this agreement with Microsoft. Together, we will be able to identify the best approach for industries to achieve firm, scalable, and investment-ready clean energy solutions., SBM Offshore’s expertise in floating energy infrastructure and Microsoft’s digital intelligence expertise will boost the energy transition and will enable companies to create a more sustainable and resilient energy ecosystem'.
Darryl Willis, Corporate Vice President, Energy and Resources Industry at Microsoft added, 'Microsoft is committed to advancing sustainability solutions that enable new models of carbon-free electricity generation. Through our collaboration with SBM Offshore, we are exploring how AI-powered technology can help optimize and scale clean energy solutions in floating power applications'.
Source: SBM Offshore
