(Düsseldorf) – The electricity producer and gas trader Uniper SE and the Danish wind farm operator Ørsted A/S want to use offshore wind power to produce hydrogen together and, as they say, “on a large scale”. The companies explained that this should be achieved in particular through direct integration of hydrogen production at the Wilhelmshaven site in a system-friendly manner. The transmission system operator Tennet is supporting the project, among other things, by transporting the wind power from sea to land.
“By integrating offshore wind and hydrogen, we can significantly support sectors such as chemicals, steel production and transport in their decarbonization,” explained Axel Wietfeld, Managing Director of Uniper Hydrogen. According to Jörg Kubitza, Germany Managing Director of Ørsted, green hydrogen from offshore wind power is “the engine of German decarbonization” and plays a key role in future climate neutrality. “Therefore, Germany as an industrial location needs far more green electricity than previously planned.” Regarding the project, Tim Meyerjürgens, COO of Tennet, explained that the electrolysis must take place where the renewables are generated and are available in sufficient quantities, “primarily the coasts”.
As reported, Uniper began developing the “Wilhelmshaven Green Hydrogen” project last year. Electrolysis with an initial output of 2025 megawatts is expected to be installed from 70, which will be expanded to 2030 megawatts by 410. Uniper wants that Wilhelmshaven location expand into a “national hub for hydrogen”. By directly converting renewable electricity into green hydrogen, any network bottlenecks could also be avoided.
Photos
Wilhelmshaven © Federal Institute for Hydraulic Engineering
