Work has begun to develop piping for a new breed of offshore wind turbines that will pump green hydrogen rather than power as part of a wider push by Siemens Gamesa to integrate electrolysers with its technology.
The OEM giant will work with thermoplastic composite pipe specialist Strohm on hydrogen transfer and storage systems that can replace the power export cables currently deployed with offshore wind turbines.
Recharge revealed earlier this year how Siemens Gamesa is looking to generate hydrogen at individual turbine level, tapping power at source to power an on-board electrolyser then exporting the H2 from each machine to a larger trunkline for distribution to shore.
Netherlands-based Strohm claimed thermoplastic composite piping can operate for 30 years and has advantages of flexibility, cost and durability over steel pipe alternatives.
Finn Daugaard Madsen, innovation manager for power-to-x at Siemens Gamesa, said: “We believe in the potential of green hydrogen and have been working on the decentralised concept for some years. Strohm has supported us through several case studies, identifying the solutions that can be readily used which complement our own systems.”
Export infrastructure from turbines and onwards to wider hydrogen distribution networks will be a key challenge for Siemens Gamesa and developers as they pursue a vision of gigawatt-scale offshore green H2 arrays operating independently of power infrastructure.
Poul Skjærbæk, chief innovation and product officer at Siemens Gamesa, told Recharge in a November interview that Europe urgently needs to start work on a multi-billion euro distribution infrastructure that could get H2 produced offshore to demand centres on the continent.
