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Companies call for power-to-gas

4C Offshore | Tom Russell
By: Tom Russell 11/12/2018 TenneT
Shell, Siemens and German transmission system operator TenneT have called for an accelerated expansion of offshore wind capacity through the combination with hydrogen production (power-to-gas). This is expected to provide a solution for excess electricity to be stored and help stabilise the grid.

The three companies are proposing a new tendering model for offshore wind power with coupled hydrogen production. In this way, additional offshore wind capacity could be developed in a short time and the power-to-gas technology could be further developed to market maturity. 

According to a study by the consulting firm E-Bridge, which was commissioned by the three companies, between 2026 and 2030 offshore wind farms with a capacity of up to 900MW coupled with hydrogen production can be built.

The electricity generated by offshore wind farms should be collected and brought ashore by the transmission system. This ensures centralised and coordinated planning of the system. Onshore, the wind power is to be used to generate hydrogen. This is to be achieved through connecting wind power plants to electrolysis plants.

The hydrogen can be transported via the gas network for use in other sectors, such as industry or the mobility sector. By increasing or reducing hydrogen production, the transmission system operator should have greater flexibility with the grid, according to three companies.


"If we want to achieve the ambitious expansion target for renewable energies in 2030, we must not give away our renewables potential. But an expansion turbo for the high-yield offshore wind only makes sense if we link it to powerful storage technologies like power-to-gas. This provides flexibility, relieves the power grid and makes the power supply safer. And for the period after 2030, it also means less additional grid expansion," said Lex Hartman , CEO of TenneT . "In the long term," Hartman continues, "the combination with hydrogen production can also be applied throughout Germany with other renewable energies. This will help drive the energy transition and help our climate goals." 

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