ONP’s role at NORTHSEA HYDROGEN
ONP Management leverages technical and project management know-how to execute complex infrastructure projects, including offshore-wind and hydrogen projects. We manage project teams and support clients during conceptualization, early development, FEED-phase, engineering, procurement and execution/installation up to COD. Being one of the four original shareholders of “NORTHSEA HYDROGEN® Offshore Farm” ONP is providing project -management and -coordination services for the H2-Demo-Project. The ONP-Team is liaising between the +30 involved project partners, progressing the design of the H2-plattform, setting up an extensive research program and securing the necessary funding from the BMWE.
What is the “H2-Demonstrator Project”? Why is it important to discuss?
NORTHSEA HYDROGEN® aims to build large scale offshore wind farms in the German bight, scaled from 10-MW to 300MW to 1 GW, to produce green hydrogen on an industrial scale. Transport of compressed hydrogen to shore is achieved via vessels or pipelines.
The H2-Demonstrator Project” is designed to explore the feasibility of producing green hydrogen from offshore wind energy. The project involves the installation of a self-sufficient, autonomous jack-up platform equipped with 10MW electrolysers and auxiliary equipment to generate hydrogen directly at sea. The hydrogen-production-unit will operate next to an existing offshore wind farm (OWF) and source the required renewable energy directly from the OWF.
The primary idea behind this pilot project is to investigate and demonstrate the viability of hydrogen production using variable electricity loads from offshore wind turbines in a challenging marine environment. By harnessing the fluctuating power output from offshore wind, the project aims to prove that hydrogen can be effectively and efficiently produced even under variable and harsh conditions. This demonstrator project not only showcases the harmonization between offshore wind energy and hydrogen production but also paves the way for future large-scale offshore hydrogen projects.
Goals and expected outcomes of the Demonstrator Project - Why is it so important?
The primary goal of the Demonstrator Project is to test the feasibility of a modular design concept for an offshore hydrogen production plant. This involves creating a “proof of concept” that demonstrates effective integration of desalination, electrolysis technology and offshore wind energy. By achieving a functioning system integration under remote offshore conditions at a 10-MW-scale, the project aims to pave the way for future innovative offshore hydrogen projects. Successful demonstration will not only attract government support but also build trust and confidence among investors, by de-risking and highlighting the viability and scalability of such technologies in the renewable energy sector.
The project also aims to explore potential optimizations to enhance performance and reduce operational costs. The knowledge and experience gained from this demonstrator project will be applied to large-scale offshore hydrogen projects, already under development by NORTHSEA HYDROGEN®. This will help achieve significant cost reductions through economies of scale, ultimately making offshore hydrogen production a more viable and attractive option for large-scale energy generation.
To summarize, the goal is to take the charge, and develop, build and test hydrogen production offshore. Initially at 10 MW and then scaling up to megawatts and gigawatts level. Thereby, decoupling the advancement of this technology from political uncertainties and reducing the risk-profile for investors, insurers and operators.