David Caine, Partner Low Carbon Hydrogen at ERM, will be speaking within the exciting new Energy Transition Zone at #RUKGOW21, in a session entitled “Accelerating large scale production of hydrogen from offshore floating wind”. He shares some key topics he hopes to explore in more detail:
The ERM Dolphyn project is all about producing hydrogen from offshore floating wind. Following excellent progress during the past few years, we are currently accelerating the programme and looking to deploy our first unit producing hydrogen from 2024 around the coast of Aberdeen. The project has recently signed an MoU with the Salamander project to explore the integration of the ERM Dolphyn solution towards the delivery of 200MW of production capacity in the late 2020s. There have been a number of changes to the project recently and I will provide an update on how we’re accelerating the project to realise the opportunities in floating wind and hydrogen coming together.
Of course, there have been many challenges overcome to get to this point. We are combining two emerging sectors, both of which come with their own unique obstacles. For instance, shipyard capacity to enable development of largescale floating wind is a known challenge, especially when looking at increasing deployment towards 2050 targets. As is inherent in any emerging market, the early maturity of hydrogen production means an established mechanism for supply of hydrogen to a diverse range of customers is also evolving.
Having come a long way already, we have learnt several important lessons to support a bright future in this market. The big question early on in the project was to what extent green hydrogen could play a role in a zero carbon economy. Our work has demonstrated that production of green hydrogen from offshore floating wind is not only possible, but that floating offshore wind enables ideal conditions for large-scale deployment. We’re comfortable we have proven this theory and are now moving into deployment of our first projects. Encouragingly, some of the perceived risks and barriers have proven easier to solve than initially thought.
This is one of several areas in which the UK is leading the way in renewable energy. The UK is blessed with excellent offshore wind resources, many located in deep water. We already have the technology, knowledge and talent needed for hydrogen production, particularly as it operates in an offshore environment similar to that of offshore oil and gas – in which the UK plays a leading role through its extensive experience of projects in the North Sea.
I hope to discuss all of this and more during the lecture at #RUKGOW21. The messages are very positive, with the programme moving rapidly from concept to analysis to deployment at the centre of our ‘boots to boardroom’ approach at ERM.
It’s an exciting time to be involved. Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in the importance and enthusiasm associated with offshore wind. There is large-scale societal desire for concrete action on climate change, particularly with growing public sector support for low carbon projects. Now is the time to turn strategic direction into technical delivery.
For more information on the ERM Dolphyn project, please visit https://ermdolphyn.erm.com/p/1.
To attend Global Offshore Wind 2021 from 29 - 30 September at the ExCeL London register here: https://events.renewableuk.com/gow21-registration