Shell, partners to work on German offshore hydrogen project

LNG giant Shell has agreed with RWE, Gasunie and Equinor to further intensify their collaboration on the AquaSector project, the first large-scale German offshore hydrogen park.

The project partners have signed a declaration of intent, according to a joint statement released last week.

“The project aims to demonstrate that in Germany offshore based hydrogen production enables an efficient, cost-effective and sustainable way to produce green hydrogen,” the statement said.

Moreover, the AquaSector project intends to install about 300 megawatt (MW) electrolyser capacity to produce up to 20,000 tons per year of green hydrogen offshore.

The project would transport the green hydrogen via a pipeline, called AquaDuctus, to Heligoland starting in the year of 2028.

The partners see the AquaSector project also as a ‘proof of concept‘ for the realisation of the AquaVentus vision of producing up to 10 gigawatts of green hydrogen offshore by 2035 and transporting it via an extended pipeline to mainland Germany.

“Clear economic advantages”

Compared to the transport of electricity generated offshore, the hydrogen production at sea and the transport via pipeline could offer “clear economic advantages,” the statement said.

Moreover, the pipeline could replace five high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems.

“It is by far the most cost-effective option for transporting large volumes of energy over long distances,” the statement said.

The project can support the development of the market that would bring a “rapidly increasing demand” for green hydrogen.

The partners said the first step in the AquaSector is to carry out a detailed feasibility study.

The study would provide “important initial indications of the conditions under which the large-scale offshore hydrogen park can be successfully realised as well as the technical and commercial challenges which need to be overcome in regards to offshore hydrogen production.”

Most Popular

Venture Global gets FERC OK to boost Plaquemines LNG capacity

US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG has received approval from the US FERC to boost the capacity of its Plaquemines LNG terminal in Louisiana to 27.2 mtpa.

First Rio Grande LNG tank taking shape

US LNG developer NextDecade continues to make progress on the first phase of its Rio Grande LNG export plant in Texas, including the first 180,000-cbm storage tank.

Cheniere produces first LNG cargo at Corpus Christi expansion project

US LNG exporting giant Cheniere has produced the first cargo at the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project in Texas.

More News Like This

Venture Global says to launch Calcasieu Pass LNG commercial ops in April

US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG expects to launch commercial operations at its Calcasieu Pass LNG terminal in Louisiana in April, some 68 months from its final investment decision and 38 months after production start.

BP chief expects ruling on Venture Global dispute later this year

BP's CEO Murray Auchincloss expects a ruling on an arbitration dispute with US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG to be delivered in the second half of this year.

Shell expects significant near-term LNG demand growth

UK-based LNG giant Shell expects significant LNG demand growth in the near term, fueled by ongoing projects in Qatar and the USA, according to a new report.

Peru LNG terminal sent three cargoes in January

According to the shipment data by state-owned Perupetro, during January, the 4.4 mtpa LNG plant sent two shipments to...