Project development for green offshore hydrogen production from offshore wind energy in the German North Sea
NorthH2 Projektgesellschaft mbH
BremerhavenNew on Amplifa
About Northsea Hydrogen
NorthH2 Projektgesellschaft mbH (Northsea Hydrogen), based in Bremerhaven, develops projects for hydrogen production based on offshore wind energy. The core of the concept is a modular offshore platform operating in island mode without grid connection, integrating seawater desalination, PEM electrolysis, hydrogen intermediate storage and re-electrification. As a first stage, a 10-MW demonstrator on an existing foundation is being developed at the Global Tech I wind farm in the German North Sea; the project pipeline extends from a 300-MW pre-commercial project (SEN-1) to commercialization at the gigawatt scale from 2035 with up to 70,000 t of green hydrogen per year. Hydrogen transport to shore is planned via pipeline (AquaDuctus, 100 bar) or by ship with compressed hydrogen (250 bar, approx. 500 t per delivery). The company works with partners from heavy steel construction, shipbuilding (including Lloyd Werft) and offshore logistics as well as on research projects such as Wind2Hydrogen and MeerH2.
- Site
- Bremerhaven
- Processes
- PEM electrolysis (offshore), Seawater desalination, Hydrogen intermediate storage (tanks and underwater storage >500 MWh per unit), Re-electrification for emergency power supply, Hydrogen compression (compressor), Gas transport via pipeline @ 100 bar (AquaDuctus), Maritime transport of compressed hydrogen @ 250 bar, Double Anchor Loading (DAL) system, Offshore fuelling station for SOVs and CTVs
- Materials
- PEM electrolysis, Seawater desalination, Hydrogen storage, Re-electrification, Pipeline transport (100 bar), Ship transport / Double Anchor Loading
- Industries
- Offshore wind energy, Hydrogen economy, Energy supply, Shipping/Maritime, Research
- 01
Project development and engineering
- 02
Technical system integration
- 03
Procurement and manufacturing (platform, steel construction, shipbuilding via
- 04
Transport and installation
- 05
Commissioning
- 06
Operation: desalination, PEM electrolysis, storage
- 07
Re-electrification / H2 transport via pipeline or ship
Technologies and Processes
PEM electrolysis
Offshore electrolysis for producing green hydrogen from seawater and wind power.
Seawater desalination
Treatment of seawater utilizing electrolysis waste heat.
Hydrogen storage
Buffer tanks and underwater storage with over 500 MWh per unit in development.
Re-electrification
Use of the produced hydrogen for emergency power supply during wind lulls.
Pipeline transport (100 bar)
Gaseous H2 transport via AquaDuctus to the German H2 core network via Wilhelmshaven.
Ship transport / Double Anchor Loading
Loading of compressed hydrogen (250 bar, approx. 500 t) onto tanker vessels.
Locations and Project Areas
Bremerhaven
DEHead office / project development
- Project management
- Technical system integration
Plants and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEM electrolysis (offshore)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Water, Seawater, Hydrogen |
| Seawater desalinationEngineering | – | – | – | – | Seawater |
| Hydrogen intermediate storage (tanks and underwater storage >500 MWh per unit)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Hydrogen |
| Re-electrification for emergency power supplyEngineering | – | – | – | – | Hydrogen |
| Hydrogen compression (compressor)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Hydrogen |
| Gas transport via pipeline @ 100 bar (AquaDuctus)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Hydrogen |
| Maritime transport of compressed hydrogen @ 250 bar, Double Anchor Loading (DAL) systemEngineering | – | 215 m (ship, homepage) × 32 m | 500 t H2 | – | Hydrogen |
| Offshore fuelling station for SOVs and CTVsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Hydrogen |
| Heavy steel construction (offshore platforms, partner companies)Forming | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Shipbuilding (Lloyd Werft, partner companies)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Project development / engineering / technical system integration offshore hydrogenEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
10 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEM electrolyser (10 MW demonstrator, 2x5 MW) | – | 2 | – | – | OWF Global Tech I / Alpha Ventus, German North Sea |
| PEM electrolyser (planned, 10 - 270 - 900 MW per project stage) | – | – | – | – | – |
| H2 platform demonstrator (dimensions 25 m x 27 m, height above flange 18 m, approx. 900 t) | – | 1 | 25 m x 27 m x 18 m | – | OWF Global Tech I |
| H2 platform demonstrator (dimension specification 20 m x 20 m x 18 m, approx. 850 t, deviating | – | 1 | 20 m x 20 m x 18 m | – | OWF Global Tech I |
| Desalination plant | – | – | – | – | H2 platform demonstrator |
| Hydrogen compressor | – | – | – | – | H2 platform demonstrator |
| DeOXO unit | – | – | – | – | H2 platform demonstrator |
| Offshore PV system (investigated) | – | – | – | – | H2 platform demonstrator |
| Transport ship for compressed hydrogen (L 220 m, B 32.0 m, draft 8.50 m, 14.0 kn, | – | – | – | – | – |
| Offshore wind turbines (20+ MW, planned 1-GW project) | – | – | – | – | German EEZ |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 2021
Concept design, technical system integration, building the project consortium, networking
- 2022
Early project development, approach to investors and off-takers (2022–2023)
- 2024
Area allocation for the 10-MW demonstrator (Alpha Ventus)
- 2024
LoI with DOTI and Stiftung OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE for 10-MW demonstrator in the Alpha Ventus wind farm (26.11.2024)
- 2025
LoI for the joint development of the H2 demo project in OWF Global Tech I (13.10.2025)
- 2028
Planned production start of the 10-MW demonstrator (proof of concept)
- 2031
Planned 300-MW pre-commercial project (SEN-1)
- 2035
Planned start of gigawatt-scale commercialization