Offshore hydrogen key to meeting Europe's rising demand - DNV

Offshore hydrogen production will be cheaper than onshore, making future North Sea and Baltic Sea energy hubs crucial to meeting Europe's growing demand for the low-carbon emitting fuel, shipping society DNV says.

PHOTO: Fluxys and GASCADE highlight Europe's great potential for high offshore hydrogen infrastructure. Getty Images

"The EU expects demand for climate-neutral hydrogen to reach 2,000 terawatt hours (TWh) by 2050, and DNV sees the potential to produce 300 TWh/a of hydrogen using electricity from offshore wind farms in the North Sea by 2050," DNV says.

In a study commissioned by infrastructure system operators GASCADE and Fluxys, DNV notes that pipeline connections and high load factors could make the North Sea and Baltic Sea some of the lowest cost sources of green hydrogen for northwest Europe.

Hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives have emerged as among the most popular future fuels to decarbonise various industries towards stricter emissions targets, including the maritime sector.

DNV's study estimates the cost of pipelines and related infrastructure to be about 10% of the total cost in producing offshore hydrogen in the North Sea.

By Debarati Bhattacahrjee

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