The Evolution of Offshore Hydrogen Production and Infrastructure: An Expert Perspective
In the relentless pursuit of decarbonisation, the offshore North Sea offers enormous potential for combining offshore wind energy with hydrogen production technologies. As head of the business development team and member of the executive board at Tractebel Overdick GmbH, I have seen first-hand the potential of bringing these two fields together to catalyse a significant shift towards sustainable energy production. This article draws on our experience and studies at Overdick to highlight the feasibility and economic benefits of offshore hydrogen production as a cornerstone of Europe's energy transition.
Economic Viability of Offshore Hydrogen Production
Within the Tractebel group, the topic of large-scale offshore production has been on our agenda for more than 5 years. Combining both the onshore hydrogen production expertise of the group, with the offshore design and engineering capabilities of Overdick, has led to concept designs for large scale hydrogen production platforms. The studies performed demonstrated that producing large quantities of hydrogen directly offshore from renewable energy sources is not only feasible but also more economical than onshore production. The rationale behind this is twofold: firstly, the direct harnessing of offshore wind power eliminates the costs and losses associated with energy transmission over long distances. Secondly, the unique conditions offshore, such as high average but volatile wind speeds, match perfectly with the capabilities of the latest generation of electrolysers for hydrogen production.
Infrastructure and Scale
Within the Tractebel group, large scale offshore production has been on our agenda for more than 5 years. Combining the group's expertise in onshore hydrogen production with Overdick's offshore design and engineering capabilities has led to the development of concepts for large scale hydrogen production platforms. The studies carried out have shown that the production of large quantities of hydrogen directly offshore from renewable energy sources is not only feasible, but also more economical than onshore production. Firstly, the direct use of offshore wind power eliminates the costs and losses associated with transmitting energy over long distances. Secondly, the unique offshore conditions, such as high average but variable wind speeds, are perfectly suited to the capabilities of the latest generation of electrolysers for hydrogen production.
Overdick's Innovative Offshore Storage Solutions
In collaboration with partners, Overdick has developed the world's first concept for offshore salt cavern hydrogen storage. This novel approach involves a scalable offshore platform complex supporting the wellheads and a scalable compression plant accessing underground storage of up to 1.2 million cubic metres. Using underground salt caverns as natural storage buffers allows efficient management of long-term production peaks and optimises flow rates, making the whole system more economical.
Integrating Offshore Technologies
Our commitment at Overdick extends beyond just conceptualization. We engage in detailed Concept, Pre-FEED, and FEED studies to design and optimize offshore hydrogen production systems, platforms and pipelines that are tailored to the specific needs of our clients. These studies ensure that every aspect of the hydrogen value chain, from production to storage and transportation, is optimized for cost and efficiency.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, the integration of offshore hydrogen production facilities promises not only to enhance the flexibility of energy systems but also to reduce overall costs. Centralized offshore hydrogen hubs could potentially integrate smaller-scale production units, which are anticipated to become more prevalent as offshore wind farms undergo repowering and capacity expansions. This integration will likely lead to significant cost reductions in offshore hydrogen production, making it an increasingly competitive alternative to traditional energy sources.
Challenges and Opportunities: AquaConsult as your One-Stop-Solution
Despite the promising outlook, the journey is not without its challenges. The development of offshore hydrogen production infrastructure requires significant initial investment and strong regulatory support. In addition, public perception needs to be more closely aligned with technological realities - a gap that we continually strive to bridge through transparency and engagement. At AquaConsult, we offer our expertise on all of these issues.
Conclusion
As we advance our technologies and expand our projects, Tractebel Overdick remains at the forefront of the offshore hydrogen revolution. Our work not only supports the global shift towards a carbon-neutral future but also underscores the critical role of innovative engineering solutions in overcoming the modern challenges of energy production and environmental sustainability.
About the Author Klaas Oltmann : With 20 years experience in offshore engineering and renewable energy, I have had the privilege of leading several innovative, ground-breaking projects at Overdick. Our mission to innovate and integrate new technologies continues to drive our efforts to make offshore hydrogen a key element of Europe's energy strategy.
