Reuters reports that Siemens Gamesa and Siemens Energy will develop commercial offshore wind turbines that can produce hydrogen through electrolysis. “This is the most concrete plan of the renewable industry to date to capitalize on an expected surge in hydrogen demand.”
Siemens Energy owns 67% of Siemens Gamesa, the world’s largest manufacturer of wind turbines abroad. The two companies are investing € 120 million ($ 146 million) in the project. Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis, in which renewable energy sources – in this case sea wind – divide water into hydrogen and oxygen.
Andreas Nauen, CEO of Siemens Gamesa, said [via Reuters]:
We have to completely recharge the turbine, which is designed for electricity production.
We are looking at our 14 megawatt turbine, which will be our bread and butter product by the mid-2020s.
From the mid-2020s, they plan to target major industries such as steelmakers and chemical companies that have to take carbon dioxide as part of Europe’s efforts to achieve the Paris targets.
They consider Germany, which borders the North and the Baltic Sea, as the site for a first commercial project of about 100-200 megawatts. Customers need to be close to the source of green hydrogen production – the offshore wind turbines – as the hydrogen is transported by pipelines.
The German government said today that by 2025 it will contribute € 700 million to three of the companies’ model projects. Germany plans to become a global hydrogen leader. It has allocated € 9 billion to start a national hydrogen industry.
Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy, said [via Reuters]:
It’s actually about developing a commercially viable product.
I know of no other company that combines wind energy, electrolysis and foreign high voltage technology into one enterprise.
Hydrogen is an important topic, but here is no silver bullet.
“Although most projects across the continent are in a pilot phase, the EU estimates that investments in green hydrogen in Europe would amount to € 470 billion by 2050 and create up to 1 million jobs,” Reuters wrote.
Photo: Siemens Gamesa
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