<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/offshore-hydrogen-energy-islands-could-save-germany-e4-billion-per-year-report/>
"Building “energy islands” in the North Sea to produce green hydrogen using 20
gigawatts of offshore wind power can save Germany billions of euros, according
to a report by the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System
Technology (Fraunhofer IEE).
“Germany can achieve annual savings of up to €4.3 billion ($A6.4 billion) by
establishing offshore hydrogen production on two energy islands,” the
Fraunhofer report says.
It says these islands would be connected to 10 gigawatts offshore capacity
each, located around 150 kilometres from shore with a limited connection to the
power grid. The report was commissioned by Copenhagen Energy Islands, a company
dedicated to the development of such energy islands.
The cost advantages are in comparison to a scenario whereby all the offshore
wind electricity is fed into the mainland power grid for the hydrogen
production.
“The savings are primarily driven by reduced grid buildout costs, especially
cables from the coastline to the centre of Germany,” as well as higher
utilisation of high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables, the report said,
adding that producing hydrogen offshore is more efficient than onshore because
of lower energy losses and less grid buildout requirements.
The report looked at the construction of islands that are connected to the
mainland only via a hydrogen pipeline and a scenario that added a limited grid
connection.
The researchers found that adding a limited grid connection to other offshore
wind farms’ converter platforms brings cost benefits because “in times of low
offshore wind and high solar PV generation, connecting the [offshore energy
islands] on the electricity side can make it possible to convert the surplus
solar PV electricity into hydrogen.”
At times of low renewable supply and high electricity prices, offshore
electricity can be fed into the grid. “This increases flexibility of the
overall energy system, creating positive system effects,” Fraunhofer IEE said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
