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Pioneering project at sea: First hydrogen directly from wind power!
Bremerhaven is testing a floating platform for the offshore production of hydrogen from wind energy. Project H2Mare started.
Pioneering project at sea: First hydrogen directly from wind power!
A new chapter in fuel production could soon be opened on the North Sea. The H2Mare project is developing a floating platform that will produce synthetic fuels from renewable energy directly in the sea. This innovative approach could be groundbreaking for future energy supply and mobility. Loud Logistics today Offshore wind energy is used for this, which is significantly less volatile than its onshore counterparts.
The offshore systems deliver a higher output of around five megawatts than the onshore systems, which reach around 3.5 megawatts. The problem of the expensive submarine cables required to transport electricity could be avoided by using energy directly at the source. Project coordinator Roland Dittmeyer explains that for one gigawatt of output it is necessary to lay a cable, the cost of which can be up to four billion euros for wind farms far away. The floating platform could reduce these high costs to just a tenth.
The platform and its function
In the planned test phase, which has begun in Bremerhaven, the platform will be equipped with a direct air capture system that extracts CO2 from the air and a high-temperature electrolysis system to produce synthesis gas. This synthesis gas is then further processed in Fischer-Tropsch products to obtain green fuels. The entire system is looked after around the clock by six people and is returned to port every two weeks. These tests run depending on the weather and are expected to last a total of six to seven weeks.
Another highlight is the planned production of e-fuels. One barrel (that's 159 liters) of these synthetic fuels is produced every day. Researchers hope that the “H2Mare” platform, which was set up in January, will provide valuable insights into the everyday suitability of such systems under real conditions on the high seas. Hydrogen lead projects explains that this requires water, CO2 and nitrogen, which should be obtained directly on site.
Coming challenges and opportunities
One of the biggest challenges will be to finance production beyond 2025 after the project has been funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Dittmeyer goes on to say that the industry will initially have to rely on European funding to get the risks and costs under control. The potential for offshore hydrogen production shows that with the increase in wind turbines in the sea, the possibilities for using wind energy also increase.
But research does not stand still: After the test phase, the operators aim to implement the first commercial platforms in around five years. These could then significantly increase production and thus revolutionize the energy supply in the area of sustainable fuels. Loud Karlsruhe Institute of Technology The first fuel production at sea is expected as early as 2025.
Overall, it shows that the H2Mare project, combined with the advantages of offshore wind power, could build a bridge to a more sustainable energy future. The coming months and years will be crucial in proving the feasibility and suitability for everyday use of these new technologies.