Offshore gas platform proves green hydrogen can be produced using existing infrastructure
Just 13 kilometres off the coast of Scheveningen, a Dutch pilot project is demonstrating a promising way to repurpose the vast network of offshore oil and gas infrastructure around the world. As part of the energy transition, green hydrogen has, for the first time, been successfully produced on an operational offshore gas platform while natural gas production continued simultaneously. The pilot, known as PosHYdon, is being carried out on the operational Q13a-A platform.
Convert electricity into green hydrogen at sea
The Q13a-A platformThe achievement by the PosHYdon project demonstrates that the infrastructure built for the gas industry could one day be repurposed for a new role: producing and transporting green hydrogen using offshore wind energy. As countries expand offshore wind capacity, one question is becoming increasingly important: how can that renewable energy be transported efficiently to where it is needed?
One possible answer, instead of bringing all electricity ashore through subsea cables, renewable electricity generated by offshore wind can be used directly at sea to produce green hydrogen. The hydrogen can then be transported through offshore pipelines, many of which already exist as part of the North Sea's extensive gas network.
This successful proof of concept shows that offshore platforms, once their gas production ends, could potentially be repurposed for hydrogen production. In the future, the same offshore pipeline network that currently transports natural gas could also be used to transport hydrogen, reducing the need for entirely new infrastructure.
The quantities of hydrogen currently produced are deliberately small and therefor not used yet. At this moment the purpose of PosHYdon is to demonstrate that the technology works safely and reliably under real offshore conditions and to collect the operational data needed for future large-scale projects.
“This project is an important step in scaling up offshore hydrogen production based on offshore wind energy. The pilot offers the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and practical experience that are essential for the further development of large-scale offshore hydrogen production. This helps to reduce risks and control costs more effectively.”
Rene Peters, Business Director Energy Infrastructure TNO
Green Hydrogen
test periodOver the coming months, TNO and the project partners will analyse the results and findings from the pilot and present them to Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer, Minister of Climate and Green Growth in Q4. Those results will help determine the next steps towards scaling up offshore hydrogen production and accelerating the reuse of existing North Sea infrastructure.
Cooperation
PosHYdon is an initiative of DEME, EBN, Eneco, Emerson, Gasunie, Hatenboerwater, Investa Expertise Centrum, Iv, Nel, Eni, Nexstep, NGT, Nogat, TAQA and TNO. Their ambition is to accelerate the development of offshore hydrogen production as Europe expands its renewable energy capacity.
This project is one of the many pilot projects in The Hague, also known as City by the Sea. The city offers different testing grounds and facilities where government, industry and researchers work together on practical solutions for the energy transition both on and offshore.
“It is remarkable to see that, together with all these public and private partners, we have been able to achieve a world first through PosHYdon. The reuse of existing offshore platforms for sustainable applications is now becoming a tangible reality. Together, we are taking a meaningful step towards a future offshore energy system in the North Sea.”
Lex de Groot, Managing Director Eni Energy Netherlands & Vice-President Element NL
Green hydrogen will be produced offshore on an operational platform
The PosHYdon pilot is the world’s first project to combine offshore wind energy, natural gas production, and hydrogen production at sea. As such, it plays a key role in the development of an integrated energy system for the North Sea and contributes to the Netherlands’ ambition to be a leader in sustainable energy and offshore innovation.
The project has been made possible through the support of a broad consortium of public and private partners: DEME, EBN, Eneco, Emerson, Gasunie, Hatenboerwater, Investa Expertise Centre, Iv, Nel Hydrogen, Eni, Nexstep, NGT, Nogat, TAQA, and TNO. The contribution of these consortium partners and suppliers has been crucial to the successful realization of the project.
What is green hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is a clean energy carrier made using renewable electricity, such as offshore wind power. An electrolyser uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Because the process is powered by renewable energy rather than fossil fuels, no CO₂ is emitted during production. The hydrogen can be stored and transported, making it a promising way to balance fluctuations in renewable energy supply and provide clean energy when the wind is not blowing or the sun is not shining.
