Green hydrogen was produced on the Q13a-A drilling rig, which is located about 13 kilometers off the coast of Scheveningen, the Netherlands. The platform is operated by the energy technology company Eni Energy Netherlands BV and, according to the company, is the first fully electrified production platform in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.
On the drilling platform, seawater is first converted into demineralized water and then split into hydrogen via electrolysis. The electricity required for this process is supplied by offshore wind energy. The hydrogen is then mixed with natural gas, transported to the coast via the existing gas pipeline, and fed into the national gas distribution network. To facilitate this, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy had raised the blending requirements for hydrogen from 0.02 percent to 0.5 percent. The 1-MW electrolyzer is expected to produce up to three metric tons of hydrogen per week.
The goal of the project is to gain practical experience with the integration of multiple energy systems in a maritime environment. It will also examine how efficiently an electrolyzer operates when powered by variable wind energy. In addition, the project aims to gather insights into the costs, maintenance requirements, and operational performance of offshore hydrogen plants.
Consortium Brings Together 15 Project Partners
PosHYdon is an initiative launched by a consortium of 15 public and private partners:
- DEME NV,
- EBN BV,
- Eneco Groep N.V.,
- Eni Energy Netherlands,
- Emerson Electric Co.,
- Nederlandse Gasunie NV,
- Hatenboer-Water B.V.,
- Investa Expertise Center,
- Iv-Offshore & Energy B.V.,
- Nel Hydrogen Electrolyzer AS,
- Nexstep – National Platform for Reuse and Decommissioning,
- Noordgastransport B.V.,
- Northern Offshore Gas Transport (NOGAT),
- TAQA Energy BV and
- Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO).
In 2021, the project received a grant of 3.6 million euros from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) as part of its “Demonstration Energy and Climate Innovation” program, which invests in the development of renewable energy, including hydrogen pilot projects.
Test phase examines system operation and flexibility
During the current testing phase, the initial goal is to achieve stable system operation for hydrogen production. Subsequently, researchers will investigate the extent to which the system can respond to fluctuations in offshore wind power generation. The most relevant findings will then be analyzed and compiled, and shared with the hydrogen sector in the fall.
Lex de Groot, managing director of Eni Energy Netherlands, emphasized that the reuse of existing offshore platforms for sustainable applications is now becoming a tangible reality.
