Bremerhaven starts hydrogen revolution: H2 Mare conquers the sea!

Bremerhaven starts hydrogen revolution: H2 Mare conquers the sea!

Bremerhaven, Deutschland - In Bremerhaven, the pilot phase of an ambitious project starts today: the "H2 Mare" project. This is a world first in which hydrogen is to be produced directly on the high seas through offshore wind turbines. The project is implemented by renowned research institutions such as the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES) and several industrial partners. A test platform is planned in the port of Bremerhaven, where the Integration of water electrolysisors in wind turbines is tested in order to reduce the network costs and avoid the need for power cables. Due to their larger areas, offshore wind turbines can produce more energy than their onshore counterparts, with the average of 5 megawatts per system, while onshore systems usually only do 3.5 megawatts.

A special focus of the project is on the sub -projects "H2Wind" and "Offgridwind". H2Wind optimizes PEM electrolysis for the special conditions at sea, while offgridwind models to simulate the entire production chain from wind use to hydrogen production develops. Another central element is the sea water relaxation that is necessary for electrolysis. A test system is installed in Bremerhaven, the North Sea water is filtered and heated.

ecological aspects in focus

An important aspect of hydrogen production at sea are the ecological effects. The Helmholtz Center here analyzes the consequences of offshore hydrogen production to the ecosystem of the North Sea. It turns out that the waste heat of 500 megawatts offshore electrolysis can increase the water temperature by up to 2 degrees Celsius. These temperature changes can influence the vertical layering of the water body, which in turn could disturb nutrient transport from deeper layers of water. Such changes could negatively influence the productivity of the phytoplankton, which forms the basis of the marine food chain. Experts therefore recommend a decentralized hydrogen production to minimize the influence on the environment.

The technical feasibility and the economy of this offshore hydrogen production are currently still being tested. After completing the pilot phase, the results are to be presented at a final conference in autumn 2025. The “H2 Mare” project pursues the aim of realizing the complete chain from wind power to hydrogen to possible follow-up products, including sustainable fuels such as Fischer-Tropsch products and methanol.

financing and partnerships

The project, which is part of the national hydrogen strategy in Germany, aims to achieve an electrolysis of ten gigawatts by 2030. The H2 Mare project is borne by 18 partners with a funding dating of 03hy300 A-R and a total funding of 37.4 million euros, coordinated by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. In addition to the extraction of hydrogen, the raw materials of water, CO2 and nitrogen also play a central role, which are to be obtained directly from air or sea. Ultimately, these measures could help reduce the costs of renewable energy infrastructure and to better exploit the innovative potential of the offshore areas.

Developments in Bremerhaven show that Germany is on the way to take a pioneering role in hydrogen production, and not only for the domestic market, but as a model for the international scene. With projects like H2 Mare, an important step is taken in the direction of sustainable and environmentally friendly energy future.