‘Energy Plus’ hybrid platform will generate electrons and molecules

The companies plan to work together to deliver Enterprize Energy’s ‘Energy Plus’ vision for future offshore wind projects in which wind power could be brought ashore as electricity or as green hydrogen or ammonia.

Tractebel Engineering and Tractebel Overdick, both part of energy major Engie, first unveiled a power-to-gas offshore platform that would convert wind energy to green hydrogen in 2019. Tractebel anticipates that the platform could form the basis of an industrial-scale facility for producing green hydrogen.

The companies said the 400-MW wind-to-hydrogen platform was “ready to be implemented” and noted that doing so would increase production of green hydrogen that could be used in several potential applications, including transport. Using electricity from offshore wind to produce electricity would also help alleviate congestion in the electricity grid, they noted, and the hydrogen produced could also be used to store energy and compensate for seasonal fluctuations in output from renewables.

“The Energy Plus platform will facilitate the delivery of electrons to the grid, using associated technology to produce green hydrogen and ammonia, both of which will play an important role decarbonising domestic and industrial heating and maritime transport,” the developer said.

The agreement with Tractebel Overdick will see the companies deliver a prototype design for a platform that enables multiple energy outputs, including electrons, green hydrogen that would be exported via the gas grid and ammonia exported via specialised tankers.

Enterprize Energy chief executive Ian Hatton said, “The enormous structural challenges that we face decarbonising energy, heat and transport can only be met through innovation.

“It is our vision and belief that the next phase of innovation needs intelligent harnessing of renewable energy technology, particularly offshore wind, to help meet the decarbonisation challenge in other sectors.

“By necessity, we need to deliver new platform technologies over and above the designs that are in operation in established markets.

“We see the future of offshore wind as a backbone technology that will deliver multiple benefits, not just products such as green gases, but in making sure those benefits can be secured in new markets to help drive sustainable growth and new economic opportunities.”

Tractebel Overdick managing director Andreas Rosponi said, “There are a host of different technological opportunities that are still to emerge. Partnering with Enterprize Energy, we can start to deliver a new ambition for offshore wind.”