Germany alone expects to expand offshore wind capacity up to 70 GW until 2045 to meet its climate targets. Albeit being an important part of the energy system, offshore wind challenges the electric transmission grid. In the next decades, the electric transmission grid will be expanded, but the total offshore capacity will likely exceed the available transport capacities.
To fully decarbonize, the German industry also needs large quantities of green hydrogen. This raises the question of optimal strategies for the integration of offshore wind capacity. Combine molecules and electricity: offshore electrolysis is used to produce hydrogen when prices are low, but the offshore turbines could still be connected electrically, providing baseload capability. Such concepts have not been considered as part of the offshore strategy, yet.
Conducting a system study on possible advantages of offshore electrolysis and connection concepts in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in Germany. Use of fundamental energy market modeling. Analysis of different scenarios and infrastructure topologies with statements on the optimal offshore energy transport in the overall energy system. Inclusion of an initial environmental assessment and a legal opinion on necessary legislative changes to enable corresponding concepts.
The simultaneous connection of offshore wind farms via power cable and offshore electrolysis and pipeline offers many advantages in terms of energy system integration, overall costs and implementation risks for remote offshore wind farms in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This combined connection concept increases the flexibility of the energy supply. Electricity is fed into the grid when it is needed. If sufficient renewable energy is available, hydrogen is produced. If power generation from wind energy at sea is limited, the power cable can also be used to supply the offshore electrolysis plant with surplus onshore power. This increases the capacity utilization of the offshore electrolysers and the transport infrastructure. Compared to a pure electricity or hydrogen connection, hydrogen-centered combined connection concepts have a significantly higher revenue potential and can be implemented more cost-effectively than a purely electrical connection. This can also significantly reduce the costs of tapping offshore potential.
