The potential of repurposing offshore natural gas infrastructure on the Dutch Continental Shelf for hydrogen production and transport

Climate change becoming an increasingly pressing issue worldwide necessitates a transition from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy. In line with this, the Netherlands aims to install 21 GW offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 72 GW by 2050. Transporting this substantial amount of energy to shore could be challenging, concerning high electricity transmission costs and onshore grid congestion problems. Offshore hydrogen production could pose a potential solution pathway to transport offshore wind power to shore. Based on the projected decommissioning of large amounts of offshore natural gas infrastructure in the future, this study explored the potential of repurposing said infrastructure on the Dutch Continental Shelf for green hydrogen production and transport. In this study we found platform (topsides) weight to be the limiting factor for the maximum electrolyzer capacity that could fit on a platform. Based on that criteria we found 84 potential natural gas platforms that could accommodate PEM electrolysis systems of various capacities. Considering a range of PEM electrolyzer system weights, the total potential electrolysis capacity that those 84 platforms can accommodate, amounted to between 23 and 42 GW, with most platforms potentially being able to transport hydrogen with their existing pipelines at a pressure between 50 and 60 bar. Promising synergies were found between nearby offshore platforms and future wind farms in the areas known as Nederwiek Noord and Nederwiek Zuid.