German wind association BWO has said the country’s updated national hydrogen strategy offers more planning security for offshore wind projects.
The strategy increases the target for domestic electrolysis capacity in 2030 from 5GW to at least 10GW.
The federal government is providing an area in the North Sea for the production of hydrogen at sea.
This is expected to include 1 gigawatt of installed wind energy capacity, BWO said.
In addition 500MW of electrolyser capacity are to be put out to tender in the years 2023 to 2028. These are to be used in a system-friendly way to generate green hydrogen on land, including with electricity from offshore wind farms.
Projects are expected to generate green hydrogen on land, including using electricity from offshore wind farms.
BWO managing director Stefan Thimm (pictured) said: “It is good that the federal government has presented an updated national hydrogen strategy.
“This offers more planning security for the offshore wind industry.
“On the basis of the strategy, however, it is now important to define concrete measures for the production of green hydrogen using offshore wind power.
“The production of green hydrogen from offshore wind must start now and be expanded rapidly – by electrolysis at sea or near the coast by electricity from offshore wind.”
Thimm added that the offshore wind industry should quickly get clarity about the funding criteria for electrolysis at sea so that the first area in the North Sea intended for hydrogen production can be put out to tender quickly.
He said: “According to the law, the tender for the production of green hydrogen on land should also take place from 2023.
“So far, however, there have been no proposals for the tender design from the responsible Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
“It is important to find an appropriate balance between the interests of the stakeholders and the goal of rapid hydrogen production. Operators’ business models must be taken into account to encourage positive investment decisions.”