Neptune Energy has been selected to help create the first offshore hydrogen plant in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.
The firm’s Q13a platform, located eight miles from the coastal town of Scheveningen, will be installed with a megawatt electrolyser.
Hydrogen produced by the electrolyser will then be transported via pipeline to a nearby Taqa-operated platform, which will use it to produce electricity to power their platform.
Part of the reason Q13a was chosen was because it was the first platform in the Dutch sector to become fully electrified.
The pilot scheme is due to begin next year, allowing participants to develop experience in producing hydrogen offshore and acting as a testing ground for new technologies.
It has been commissioned by NexStep, the Dutch Association for Decommissioning and Re-Use, and TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for applied scientific research.
Neptune’s managing director for the Netherlands, Lex de Groot, said: “This pilot demonstrates the valuable role gas has to play in the integration of various energy systems, and underlines our commitment to adopting innovative technologies and supporting a sustainable future for our business.
“The North Sea, where both wind and natural gas are abundantly available, is the perfect testing ground and we are proud that our Q13a platform has been selected.
“The platform was the first in the Netherlands to be fully electrified, making it an excellent fit for this important pilot.”