The German Federal Government is picking up pace with the development of hydrogen. By 2025, a total of 700 million Euros will be allocated to three research projects with numerous industrial partners. The goal is to move into large-scale production and use of hydrogen by building production facilities (electrolysers) and corresponding transport infrastructure. Electrolysis is the most sustainable and promising technology for the production of hydrogen. In this process, water molecules (H2O) are basically split using electrical energy into molecular hydrogen and oxygen respectively (power-to-hydrogen). If the required electricity comes from renewable energy sources, no CO2 emissions are generated (so-called green hydrogen). Hydrogen not only allows energy to be (temporarily) stored and transported over long distances, but - in addition to being converted back into electricity by using fuel cells - could also directly replace fossil fuels in industry and logistics. It can therefore make a significant overall contribution to reducing emissions and achieving climate targets.
Question: Where can production plants for green hydrogen be built?
Response: In principle, production plants
for green hydrogen can be built both onshore as well as offshore.
In addition to potentially larger space capacities, production at
sea would also have the advantage that offshore wind farms can
generate on a more regular basis greater volumes of electricity
than onshore wind farms. Moreover, if the generated energy is fully
converted to hydrogen, costly grid connections are no longer
necessary. In connection with floating foundations, this opens up
completely new possibilities, since both water depth and distance
to the coast would no longer be limiting factors. Hydrogen could be
transported by ship from offshore wind farms all over the world.
Existing wind farms could be combined with energy islands or
onshore production plants where electricity cannot be directly fed
into the grid. In this way, the now common short-term (partial)
shutdowns of offshore wind farms in case of grid congestion could
be significantly reduced and energy output increased, without
building additional generation facilities.
Question: Are there any special requirements for the construction and operation of the hydrogen production plants?
Response: Our experience in chemical plant
construction shows that a special focus will be on the
commissioning of the plants and the question of how performance
parameters such as efficiency and purity levels can be demonstrated
during trial operation and performance tests and the legal
consequences associated with this. In case of offshore
construction, the typical challenges already known from the
industry, such as the complex logistical set up including weather,
but also increased requirements for materials and maintenance need
to be taken into account. Here, however, one can rely on existing
industry experience from offshore wind as well as oil and gas
production.
Question: Do we need a new infrastructure for the transport of hydrogen?
Response: Hydrogen facilitates the
transport of (renewable) energy without electricity grids. In
addition to pipelines, hydrogen could be transported by ship, rail
and lorry which would, however, require a considerable expansion of
corresponding terminals and transshipment points. According to the
German Association of Energy and Water Industries (Bundesverband
der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft e.V. (BDEW), the existing natural
gas infrastructure, including caverns, can also be used for
hydrogen storage. Germany has the largest gas storage capacities in
the European Union. Hydrogen could thus be stored and transported
via the existing gas networks. Even if it currently remains
undecided which means of transport will emerge and become
established in the ongoing research projects, new large-scale
projects are predicted. Plant and infrastructure construction
contractors are already preparing for this.
Do you have any questions or are you interested in an
(interdisciplinary) discussion on hydrogen infrastructure? The
experts from our international Energy & Infrastructure group
have a comprehensive overview of the market and the latest
developments and can provide support in drafting and negotiating
all relevant agreements (e.g. EPC, EPCM, O&M and SMA) as well
as on all regulatory topics, such as privileges and subsidies under
the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) or on grid
regulation.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.