Investigation into hydrogen production, storage and transport
From far offshore floating wind farms
M. Misra (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
Michiel Zaaijer – Mentor (TU Delft - Wind Energy)
D. A. von Terzi – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Wind Energy)
A. J. Jarquin Laguna – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Offshore and Dredging Engineering)
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Abstract
Offshore wind farms designed solely for hydrogen production are promising solutions for maximizing wind energy conversion, decarbonizing industries that cannot directly utilize electricity, and reducing the need for additional grid reinforcements. Furthermore, floating offshore wind turbines enable the capture of wind resources in deeper waters. This has created the possibility of locating wind farms far offshore. This study looks into the technological and economic feasibility of in-turbine hydrogen production, storage, and transport via vessels from far offshore floating wind farms. Transport of hydrogen via pipelines and transport of hydrogen via a large vessel connected to the entire wind farm are also studied for comparison and bench marking purposes. To investigate the performance of various transport methods, a wind farm model is built that includes the components required for hydrogen production at the wind turbine as well as the components required for hydrogen transport. The model simulates wind farm operation, vessel operations with regard to onsite storage, and vessel operations when connected to the entire wind farm. Based on the levelized cost of hydrogen(LCOH), the performance of the three different farms has been compared. The study was conducted over distances ranging from 100 to 700 km. Throughout the range of distances studied, on-site hydrogen storage and periodic removal via vessel proves to be the least cost effective solution. Weather conditions are seen to be a significant factor in the operation of the vessel fleet servicing the farm with on-site storage. When combined with a four-vessel fleet servicing the entire wind farm, the optimum storage size in the farm type with onsite storage is found to be equal to the wind turbine average weekly production. A key distinction is seen in the cost trends, a steady increase is seen in hydrogen transport via pipelines with increase in distance, while, the LCOH of hydrogen remains nearly identical for the transport of hydrogen via vessels over the range of distances studied. The farm produces the most hydrogen with pipeline transport of hydrogen followed by transport of hydrogen via a large vessel, and the least hydrogen with in platform hydrogen storage and periodic emptying of the storage by vessels. The study indicates that the pipeline transport of hydrogen is the most cost effective transport option.