Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy is launching a pilot project in western Denmark to evaluate how its wind turbines can produce green hydrogen as a clean fuel.
The wind energy provider in Zamudio, Spain is working with Danish Green Hydrogen Systems (GHS) to meet its electrolysis needs. The pilot project involves using 3 MW Siemens wind turbines in island mode to power a 400 kW GHS electrolyzer, which then splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. When oxygen is released into the atmosphere, the hydrogen will be stored by a Danish hydrogen fuel company called Everfuel and distributed to hydrogen-powered cars in Copenhagen, including buses, taxis and cars.
Niels-Arne Baden, CEO of Green Hydrogen Energy Systems, pointed out: “Europe does rely on sustainable energy, and green hydrogen energy will play an important role in the future transition. Siemens Gamesa recently launched the world’s largest wind turbine to enable wind energy. Hydrogen production is clearly the leader in the next large-scale Power-2-X application. We are very proud of being selected as an electrolysis partner for this important and visionary project."
Green Hydrogen Systems will provide Siemens Gamesa with a HyProvide A series electrolyzer designed to adapt to the fluctuating power output of wind turbines while ensuring high efficiency-producing hydrogen at the lowest leveled cost. GHS has supplied its pressurized alkaline electrolyzers to hydrogen refueling stations and Power-2-X facilities near Scandinavia.
The term "green hydrogen" is derived from the fact that hydrogen is produced by electrolysis using renewable resources instead of fossil resources. Hydrogen fuel is seen as the main solution to carbon emissions in the transportation industry, so much so that the European Union (EU) put hydrogen production at the core of its green agreement.
The European Union outlined a hydrogen strategy with a goal of increasing installed capacity to 6 GW by 2024 and doubling to 40 GW by 2030. Countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, France, Portugal and Norway are already formulating ambitious national strategies for green hydrogen production. . The EU also announced that it will allocate US$2.8-49 billion (€2.4-42 billion) to expand the capacity of electrolyzers and allocate US$25.8-398 billion (€22-34 billion) for 80-120 GW of additional wind energy and The solar energy needed to power the electrolyzer. European governments spend billions of dollars to encourage hydrogen production, aiming to offset the costs associated with incorporating sustainable energy systems.
Siemens Gamesa CEO Andreas Nauen envisioned a future in which the company could sell hydrogen equipment and its turbines to wind farm developers.
It is expected that by January 2021, the new Siemens Gamesa plant will start producing hydrogen.