Catrin Jung (Vattenfall): “The experience we gain in Scotland will be applied on a larger scale at Hollandse Kust West” (source: Vattenfall)
Vattenfall has confirmed it is hoping to build what it describes as a ‘world first’ offshore wind-to-green hydrogen cluster at the Hollandse Kust West offshore windfarm in the Netherlands
The cluster forms part of the company’s proposal for Lot VII at the Hollandse Kust West windfarm, for which Vattenfall submitted a bid in the recent Dutch Government tender.
Vattenfall project manager Daan van Eijkel said if Vattenfall wins the Hollandse Kust West tender, three of wind turbines it installs 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 production capacity of the cluster will be 45 MW.
Vattenfall head of offshore wind Catrin Jung said, “Hydrogen production at source offers clear advantages, not only in financial terms, but because it is practical.”
She said Vattenfall expects offshore hydrogen production to be able to deliver green hydrogen at a competitive price. She noted that using turbines to produce hydrogen will also ease pressure on the onshore electricity grid.
“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,” she said.
Earlier this year, Vattenfall secured funding from the Scottish Government to develop the world’s first hydrogen turbine off the coast of Aberdeen. Vattenfall wants to use Hollandse Kust West as a springboard and next step, connecting multiple hydrogen turbines.
Ms Jung said, “Hydrogen is set to play an important role. The experience we gain in Scotland through offshore production can be applied on a larger scale at Hollandse Kust West.”
In the hydrogen cluster, containers with electrolysers will be installed on platforms on the turbines.
“We want to show that the next step is already within reach and that we can produce offshore hydrogen on a large scale,” said Mr Van Eijkel.
“Thanks to the ‘island mode,’ hydrogen turbines will eventually be self-sufficient, so there will be no need to connect to the electricity grid.”
