RWE, Neptune accelerate North Sea hydrogen production

German utility RWE and Neptune Energy said on February 15 they had signed a joint development agreement for an offshore green hydrogen demonstration project, H2opZee.

H2opZee is a demonstration project to develop 300-500 MW of electrolyser capacity, using wind energy, in the Dutch North Sea.

The project will integrate existing natural gas infrastructure – an offshore platform that has been electrified and the existing natural gas pipeline that has sufficient capacity for 10-12 GW of green hydrogen transportation. It would be the first of its kind and scale in the world.

“We see an important role for green hydrogen in future energy supply, and it can be produced here in the North Sea. The energy transition can be faster, cheaper and cleaner if we integrate existing gas infrastructure into new systems,” said Lex de Groot, Neptune’s managing director.  “This infrastructure is technically suitable, no new pipeline at sea is needed and no new landfall is required through the coastal area. With the pilot, we are one of the leaders in this field of offshore energy system integration and reuse.”

The partners hope to begin a feasibility study in the second quarter of 2022.