AquaVentus – Growth underscores the importance of offshore hydrogen production in the North Sea.
On the way to climate neutrality, no one can avoid green hydrogen, neither internationally nor nationally. This is also noticeable by the AquaVentus initiative, which hired eight new members last month.
Jörg Singer, Chairman of the Board of the Association and co-initiator of the project.
The interest in AquaVentus and the vision of 1 million tons of green hydrogen from the North Sea continues to be great.
“Our holistic concept, from hydrogen production by offshore electrolysis to pipeline transport to use on Helgoland in the heating sector and as a ship propulsion system in the form of LOHC (“Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers”), convinces many national and international companies and research institutes,” he emphasizes.
“On the one hand, this makes us a showcase for new technologies and, on the other hand, we are offering German and European politicians a concrete implementation project for the production of large quantities of green hydrogen by 2035,” explains Singer.
The newly joined companies come from pipeline operations, oil and gas production, consulting, offshore installation and power-to-X. A lot of support comes from the Netherlands.
Expertise in pipeline operation and offshore production
Two Dutch pipeline owners and operators are new: NOGAT BV and NGT BV (Noordgastransport) as well as the oil and gas production company Neptune Energy Netherlands.
NOGAT is also the name of a gas pipeline system in the Dutch North Sea that the company operates. The pipelines also supply gas from Denmark and Germany to Den Helder in the Netherlands. The Dutch gas transport company NGT operates a pipeline network in the North Sea that is around 500 km long. The company also liquefies large quantities of the transported gas.
Neptune Energy Netherlands is part of the internationally active Neptune Energy Group, with activities in Europe, North Africa and Asia-Pacific. The group mainly produces oil and gas. Neptune Energy Netherlands also has a stake in PosHYdon through the Q13a-A platform off the coast of The Hague.
The pilot project is testing the production of green hydrogen using electricity from offshore wind on a central platform in the sea. Neptune Energy, NOGAT and NGT (Noordgastransport) are all members of the PosHYdon consortium.
Saipem is also globally positioned. Based in Italy, the company is a specialist in the installation, construction and commissioning and dismantling of onshore and offshore platforms and foundations. Above all, Saipem wants to support customers who contribute to the expansion of renewable energies.
Reinforcement in technical consulting and planning
Founded in Denmark in 1945, Ramboll is an international engineering, management and architecture consultancy. Ramboll has proven consulting expertise in the areas of hydrogen, offshore wind and oil and gas. The portfolio ranges from concept creation to execution planning.
Also new is Gicon-Großmann Ingenieur Consult, based in Dresden.
The consulting and planning office offers engineering services and special expert services in the areas of plant and construction planning, environmental and permit planning, computer engineering as well as research and technology development.
Offshore construction and sector coupling
The Dutch company Heerema Marine Contractors SE is one of three Heerema companies and specialises in the transport, installation and dismantling of offshore infrastructure.
“Last but not least” is also a young company from Berlin, Ptx Development GmbH now on board. It is a merger of CILIX Asset Management, GP JOULE and Undkrauss Baugesellschaft. The aim of Ptx Development is to generate hydrogen with electricity from wind power and photovoltaics. To this end, the company would like to acquire land for green electricity plants to be built or existing plants.
Growth underlines the importance of offshore hydrogen production in the North Sea
The AquaVentus initiative continues to grow. This represents a great opportunity for the climate-neutral, national and European energy system., Helgoland/ Berlin, November 16, 2021