Uniper and Ørsted forge offshore wind and hydrogen alliance
By:
Tom Russell
20/09/2021
Uniper
Uniper and Ørsted have
formed a strategic partnership in an effort to jointly develop offshore
wind with hydrogen on a large scale. This is to be achieved through a system-serving
direct integration of hydrogen production from offshore wind power at the
Wilhelmshaven site.
Uniper began developing the Wilhelmshaven Green Hydrogen project in 2020.
It is expected that an electrolysis plant with a capacity of 70 MW will
be installed from 2025, to be expanded to 410 MW by 2030. The renewable
electricity required for the electrolysis will prospectively come from
Ørsted offshore wind turbines.
According to Uniper, the site in Wilhelmshaven has all the necessary prerequisites
to play a key role in the local energy transition. In addition, the direct
conversion of renewable electricity into green hydrogen means that any
power grid bottlenecks can be avoided.
In addition, Uniper and Orsted are investigating CO2-free alternatives
for stabilising power grids, as well as green solutions for industrial
customers with a high level of supply security - even in the event of possible
dark periods.
Axel Wietfeld, CEO of Uniper Hydrogen, said: "Germany and Europe
must remain strong industrial locations - and at the same time achieve
the ambitious climate protection targets. For this, we need 'green electrons'
and 'green molecules'. Through the strategic partnership with Ørsted, we
have exactly the right setup to combine economic and ecological goals directly
on site in Wilhelmshaven. By integrating offshore wind and hydrogen, we
can significantly support industries such as the chemical, steel or transport
sectors in their decarbonization."
Jörg Kubitza, Germany Managing Director of Ørsted, commented: "Green
hydrogen from offshore wind power is the driver of German decarbonization,
as it plays a key role for future climate neutrality. Therefore, Germany
as an industrial location needs much more green electricity than previously
planned. I am very pleased that in Uniper we have a partner at our side
who will continue to push and promote the generation of renewable offshore
wind power with us in order to be able to achieve Germany's climate targets."
Tim Meyerjürgens, COO of TenneT, said: "Integrated planning of
electricity and hydrogen will become the key factor in a successful energy
transition. Electrolysis must take place where renewables are generated
and available in sufficient quantities, namely primarily on the coasts.
As a reliable partner in shaping the energy transition, TenneT stands ready
to support Ørsted and Uniper in their ambitious goals."