Wind turbines with integrated electrolyzer demonstrate sustainable hydrogen production at sea
The offshore wind turbines of the future are set to produce molecules instead of electrons. Self-sufficient units comprising a wind turbine and an integrated electrolyzer produce green hydrogen on an industrial scale and save the costs of connection to the grid. In this way, they can make a significant contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In a second phase, the green hydrogen can be converted into further synthetic fuels and energy carriers. This vision is now intended to become a reality in the scope of the H2Mare flagship project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
The H2Mare flagship project aims to establish a whole new type of turbine at sea in the future – a solution which integrates an electrolyzer into an offshore wind turbine optimally for direct conversion of the electricity. In addition, the project will also investigate further offshore power-to-X processes.
This will involve consideration of the entire value creation chain: from wind energy generation and hydrogen production to the conversion of hydrogen into methane, liquid hydrocarbons, methanol, or ammonia right up to use in industry or the energy sector. As such, various industrial downstream uses and storage options are possible. The goal is a significant cost advantage in the production of large volumes of hydrogen.
Within four years, H2Mare – comprising four joint projects with a total of 35 partners – aims to lay the foundations for technology leadership and support the achievement of climate targets by reducing greenhouse gas emissions more rapidly.
“Together with our partners, we want to establish the production of green hydrogen offshore with H2Mare,” said Christian Bruch, Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Energy AG. “We are bringing in our offshore wind and electrification capabilities as well as our expertise in electrolysis. H2Mare unites the strengths of research and industry – for sustainable decarbonization of the economy and to the benefit of the environment. We need the support of politics to drive forward innovative solutions for a green hydrogen economy, which is why the funding by the BMBF is an excellent and important step.”
Siemens Energy is responsible for the coordination of H2Mare and is supported by institutes of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft.
Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung is working on the technical basis for suitable tubular storage systems made of steel tubes. The effect of hydrogen on steel tube performance is largely unresolved, particularly for high internal pressures. Tube accumulators are also subject to high fluctuations in gas pressure due to frequent discharge cycles combined with high maximum pressures. This alternating stress produces a fatigue effect on the material and its connections. The investigations are carried out on a theoretical and experimental basis, both in the laboratory and on a 1:1 scale demonstrator tube accumulator.
Hydrogen barrier for steel tanks
The project is being funded as part of the Hydrogen Campus Salzgitter with structural funds from the state for the city of Salzgitter.
The research objective of the project is the development of a hydrogen barrier for tanks made from ultra-high-strength steel tubes. The utilization of these materials enables a reduction in the wall thickness and consequently offers the potential to reduce weight, costs and CO2 emissions.
Project partner: Fraunhofer IST
Our contribution: Construction and establishment of a test device for measuring hydrogen permeation from the gas phase in steel to evaluate the barrier effect under conditions close to the application.
