(Essen/The Hague) – The Essen-based RWE Renewables GmbH and the Neptune Energy Group Ltd. want to implement an offshore pilot project together by 2030. As part of the project called “H2opZee”, an electrolyzer capacity of 300 to 500 megawatts (MW) is to be built in the Dutch North Sea in order to produce green hydrogen using electricity from wind power. The energy source will then be transported to land via a pipeline with a capacity of ten to twelve gigawatts.
Feasibility study begins in the 2nd quarter
First, however, a feasibility study is required, which, according to the company, will begin in the second quarter of 2022. When implementation would begin in a second phase was not mentioned, nor was the amount of investment.
H2opZee is one of 37 projects preselected for the second round of the Dutch National Growth Fund. The consortium partners RWE and Neptune Energy have worked together on the project from the start. Around “40 relevant organizations” have already signaled their support, although no details were given here either.
Advancing the hydrogen economy
Sven Utermöhlen Is convinced “that the findings from the H2opZee pilot project will help advance the hydrogen economy in the Netherlands”. According to the Managing Director of Offshore Wind at RWE Renewables, we also want to research together how system integration can best be achieved.
Lex de Groot, managing director of Neptune Energy in the Netherlands, says there is no need for a new offshore pipeline due to the existing gas infrastructure. There is also no need for new landings in the coastal area.
Experiences with PosHYdon
Neptune Energy's business includes the exploration for and production of oil and gas reserves. The group is already involved in a consortium called “PosHYdon”, which aims to validate the integration of three energy systems in the Dutch North Sea: offshore wind, offshore natural gas and offshore hydrogen. According to a statement from July last year, a PEM electrolyser from the Norwegian company Nel ASA will be installed on the Q13a-A platform operated by Neptune Energy.
The green hydrogen produced using wind power is then mixed with natural gas and transported to land via the existing gas pipeline. Q13a-A is located approximately 13 kilometers off the coast of Scheveningen (The Hague). The Dutch government is supporting this project with 3,6 million euros.
Hydrogen by pipeline to Heligoland
RWE is also already active in other North Sea projects. The company announced in August 2021 that it wanted to work together with Shell, Gasunie and Equinor as part of the project “AquaSector“Produce up to 20.000 tons of green hydrogen per year at sea. From 2028, this could be transported by line to Helgoland via a project called “AquaDuctus”. In addition, in a project called “AquaVentus”, an electrolysis capacity of ten gigawatts is to be installed by 2035 and the green hydrogen is to be transported via a pipeline to the German mainland.
Class schedule
RWE and Neptune are developing hydrogen program for the North Sea. © RWE
