Electrolyser Joins Neptune's Dutch Hydrogen Plan
Belgian wind power and hydrogen producer DEME Offshore is to bring its expertise to the PosHYdon pilot, the world’s first offshore green hydrogen project, gas platform operator Neptune Energy said May 29. DEME will transport the hydrogen unit for installation at the Q13a platform in the Dutch North Sea.
The pilot aims to integrate three energy systems in the North Sea: offshore wind, offshore gas and offshore hydrogen by producing hydrogen from seawater. The hydrogen can be blended with the gas production and delivered with it to the mainland, Neptune said, lowering the carbon intensity of the gas.
Neptune said that integrating offshore energy systems requires "new and unique expertise and we are therefore pleased with the entry of DEME Offshore as a partner. Their knowledge of connecting windfarms is crucial, not only for this pilot, but also to gain experience for the follow-up projects after PosHYdon."
One of the risks the offshore wind sector faces is low wholesale power prices relative to the cost of delivery and Neptune says the "development is essential to support achieving future climate targets.”
DEME said that system integration, green hydrogen production and the electrification of existing platforms at sea was a very interesting market. “PosHYdon is a starting point. DEME is involved in the conceptual design of a 100-MW offshore hydrogen gas production plant and task leader in the evaluation of the business case in line with this 100-MW concept."
PosHYdon is an initiative of Nexstep, the Dutch association for decommissioning and reuse, and TNO, the Netherlands organisation for applied scientific research, in close collaboration with the industry. DEME is the latest partner to join the pilot, following Neptune’s announcement in April regarding the gas transport companies Gasunie, Noordgastransport, Nogat and the Japanese-owned utility Eneco. Neptune's partners in the Q13a-A platform are Dutch state EBN (40%) and Abu Dhabi state fund Taqa Offshore (10%).