Offshore Electrification Project Concludes Without Second Compressor

Equinor has reported that the Troll licence partnership has notified the Norwegian Ministry of Energy of its decision to conclude the Troll West Electrification project following commissioning of the first electric export compressor on Troll C, without installing the previously planned second unit. The decision follows a reassessment of production capacity, emissions reductions and energy deliveries.

The operational change marks a departure from the original 2021 plan for development and operation (PDO). When the project was initially sanctioned, temporary capacity shortfalls on Troll C could be mitigated by increasing production from Troll A. However, with the Troll field producing at maximum capacity throughout the year since 2023, the importance and value of available compressor capacity on Troll C have increased significantly compared with early planning assumptions.

Proceeding with the second electric export compressor would have required an extensive modification period, resulting in reduced production from Troll C for up to 21 months. Operational assessments also established that the compressor would only be required until demand ceases in the mid-2030s, whereas Troll C is projected to remain in operation until around 2050.

“TWEL has delivered significant emission reductions from the Troll area. At the same time, we have undertaken a new overall assessment of the remaining part of the project. We believe this is the best solution when balancing emission reductions, energy deliveries and value creation,” says Trond Bokn, senior vice president project development in Equinor.

Avoiding the extended modification shutdown supports high and stable gas supplies to Europe during an ongoing period of heightened energy security. The decision is anticipated to make approximately 2.3 billion standard cubic metres of additional gas available to the European market across 2027 and 2028, equivalent to roughly two years of gas consumption for one million European households.

“Troll will remain a cornerstone of Europe’s energy supply for many years to come. High regularity and stable production are important for energy security, value creation and the continued development of the Troll area. The TWEL decision must be seen in that broader context,” says Frode Skarstein, senior vice president exploration and production west in Equinor.

The completed stages of the initiative have already yielded major environmental gains following the partial electrification of Troll B and Troll C in 2024. The project has cut emissions from the Troll area by around 330,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, achieving roughly 75% of the 440,000 tonnes per year originally targeted under the PDO. This establishes the programme as one of the largest emissions reduction measures on the Norwegian continental shelf, returning area emissions to approximately 1999 levels on assets where Troll A first introduced shore-to-platform power in 1996.