6 minute read
The world’s frst ofshore hydrogen cluster
Photo courtesy of Vattenfall/van der Kloet Foto & Videoproducties.
In the future, more and more of our energy will come from wind and solar power. Since nothing changes as much as the weather, the amount of electricity supplied by wind and solar power is also in a constant state of fux.
WORDS BY ROBERT PORTIER, SENIOR SPOKESPERSON & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR OF VATTENFALL.
Construction of Hollandse Kust Zuid is in full swing. First power is supplied to the net recently.
Ofshore Wind Ofshore Wind Energy RoadmapEnergy Roadmap
Borssele
Site III and IV Blauwwind, 731,5 MW Borssele Site V
Two Towers, 19 MW Site V 1 2 Hollandse Kust (zuid)1 Hollandse Kust (zuid) Two Towers, 19 MW Luchterduinen 129 MWLuchterduinen 129 MW
Site III and IV Blauwwind, 731,5 MW Site I and II Ørsted, 752 MW Site I and II Ørsted, 752 MW
Site I and II Vatenfall, 760 MW Site III and IV Vatenfall, 760 MW Site I and II Vatenfall, 760 MW
2
Site III and IV Vatenfall, 760 MW
7 7
8
5
3 Hollandse Kust (noord)Hollandse Kust (noord)
Site V CrossWind, 759 MW Site V CrossWind, 759 MW Egmond aan Zee 108 MW
Prinses Amalia 120 MW Prinses Amalia 120 MW
4 Hollandse Kust (west)3 Hollandse Kust (west) 2.100 MW 2.100 MW
tender sites VI and Egmond aan Zee VII: 2022 108 MWtender site VIII: to be determined tender sites VI and VII: 2022 tender site VIII: to be determined
Ten noorden van de Ten noorden van de Waddeneilanden Waddeneilanden 700 MW 700 MW 5
tender to be determinedtender to be determined
Gemini 600 MW Gemini 600 MW
5 IJmuiden Ver 6.000 MW
tender(s) sites I to IV: 2023 tender(s) sites V and VI: 2025
IJmuiden Ver 6.000 MW
tender(s) sites I to IV: 2023 tender(s) sites V and VI: 2025
6
Nederwiek 6.000 MW
tender site I: 2025 tender(s) sites II and III: 2026 (indicative)
Nederwiek 6.000 MW
tender site I: 2025 tender(s) sites II and III: 2026 (indicative)
7 7 Doordewind Doordewind 4.000 MW 4.000 MW
tender(s) sites tender(s) sites I and II: 2027 I and II: 2027 (indicative) (indicative)
8 4
6
1
8 6
4 6
3 4
3
2 2
1
Sea
7 Sea8 76 5 4 8 6 5 21 43 Coast
21 3 Coast Legend
Existing wind farms ~2,5 GWExisting wind farms ~2,5 GW
Future wind farms ~11 GWFuture wind farms ~11 GW
Wind farms still to be tendered ~8 GWWind farms still to be tendered ~8 GW
100 77 100 77 5662 53 5662 53 24 18,5 0 km 24 18,5 0 km
Image courtesy of Government of the Netherlands.
Total ~21,5 GW Total ~21,5 GW
June 2022
Several new wind farms will be built off the coast of the Netherlands in the coming years. The next one scheduled for construction is Hollandse Kust West.
How can we overcome this? How can we ensure that the supply and consumption of power are as closely aligned as possible? Vattenfall is setting its sights on hydrogen production in the North Sea. The summer holidays are yet to start but Bid Manager of Vattenfall Daan van Eijkel is already looking forward to autumn. This is when the company that has won the tender to build the Hollandse Kust West ofshore wind farm will be announced. Mr Van Eijkel prepared the bid for part of the wind farm: lot VII. If Vattenfall wins the tender for this lot, the company will build the world’s frst hydrogen cluster as part of an ofshore wind farm there. Three wind turbines will be equipped with electrolysers. The hydrogen they produce will be transported via a pipeline to the Port of Rotterdam and fed into the hydrogen network there. The hydrogen will then be transported to users via a network of pipes – in the same way as with natural gas. >>
Production at the source
There are various plans for onshore hydrogen plants, but comparatively few for ofshore production. According to Catrin Jung, Head of Ofshore Wind of Vattenfall, this is a logical development. “Hydrogen production at the source ofers clear advantages, not only in fnancial terms, but because it is practical.” Ms Jung expects ofshore hydrogen production to deliver green hydrogen at competitive prices. In addition, it will ease pressure on the overloaded onshore electricity grids. Hydrogen will become an important part of the energy mix as part of a fossil-free energy supply. This is essential for the ongoing transition to a sustainable energy supply and increasing electrifcation.
Self-sufcient hydrogen turbines
Earlier this year, Vattenfall received subsidies from the Scottish government to develop the world’s frst hydrogen turbine of the coast of Aberdeen. Vattenfall wants to use Hollandse Kust West as a springboard for taking the next step and connecting multiple hydrogen turbines. Ms Jung says, “Hydrogen is set to play an important role in the future. The experience we gain in Scotland through ofshore production can be applied on a larger scale at Hollandse Kust West. This makes the wind farm an important next step towards hydrogen production on a commercial scale.” In the hydrogen cluster, which consists of three turbines, containers are placed on special platforms. These containers are flled with electrolyser modules, transformers, and batteries. When working in tandem, these containers make it possible to convert the generated electricity in the wind turbines into hydrogen. The planned total capacity for the cluster is 45MW. “We want to show that the next step is already within reach and that we can produce ofshore hydrogen on a large scale”, Mr Van Eijkel explains. “Thanks to the island mode, hydrogen turbines will eventually be self-sufcient, so there will be no need to connect to the electricity grid.”
Hydrogen, the medium of the future
It is no coincidence that Vattenfall believes hydrogen will play a key role in the future. Hydrogen is a gas that can be converted to electricity without CO2 emissions and used in sectors where emissions are difcult to reduce, not least because high temperatures are used. Oxygen can be separated from hydrogen using electrolysis, a process in which water is energised. When the hydrogen is brought into contact with oxygen again, this releases energy. And this is all without emissions – the only residual product is water. The great advantage of hydrogen is that it can be stored. This is the major challenge of solar and wind energy at present: once generated, the energy must be used immediately. Storing this energy requires highly expensive batteries. Instead, green energy can also be converted into hydrogen, which can then be transported and brought into contact with oxygen to generate energy when required. This allows surplus energy to be used and ensures there is a sufcient supply in times of scarcity.
System integration
Several new wind farms will be built of the coast of the Netherlands in the coming years. The next one scheduled for construction is Hollandse Kust West. The project consists of two parts, lot VI and lot VII, with lot VII primarily being assessed for system integration, in other words, plans to align the energy system of the future as closely as possible. Vattenfall is competing in both lots. The winner of the construction contract will be announced after the summer.
i. group.vattenfall.com
