Renewable Energy: Conceptual Process Design of Green Hydrogen Production Systems Utilizing Offshore Wind Energy

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this paper is to outline the conceptual process design for producing green hydrogen from electrolysis of water, using electricity generated from offshore wind farms. This study exemplifies the production of hydrogen based on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysis installed on the dedicated hydrogen production hub. The envisioned "hydrogen hub" represents a comprehensive green hydrogen production system, relying on a presumed 200 MW power supply from an offshore substation within an 810 MW offshore wind farm. The entire system is placed on a dedicated offshore three-deck fixed platform, which is between the offshore wind farm substation and onshore facility. The desalinated seawater is supplied to the PEM electrolyzer for producing green hydrogen. Hydrogen will be processed, compressed, and stored onboard. A high-level economics of the process design of the hydrogen production system will be evaluated using the open-source software. The paper is based on publicly available information on an 810 MW offshore wind farm as an example of a field case study. This study intends to demonstrate the conceptual process design for green hydrogen production powered by an offshore wind farm. The hydrogen production process is designed considering the availability of surplus power from one of the existing offshore wind farms. The economics of the process are evaluated and discussed. Our design analysis shows that the process of hydrogen production appears promising and can be applied to commercial scale offshore wind farms. The current cost estimate of producing green hydrogen from the offshore wind energy seems economically significant. However, the ongoing technological advances show that the costs of hydrogen producing equipment and power needed from the offshore wind farms may reduce significantly in near future. The conceptual process design and high-level economic analysis performed in this study is intended to be a small step in understanding the economics of green hydrogen production and advancing energy sustainability. This paper introduces a process design technology and economic analysis for renewable hydrogen production, utilizing offshore wind energy as applied to a field case study. This contributes to the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and achieve net zero emissions goals. Leveraging expertise in offshore/subsea engineering and petroleum engineering, this research advances the knowledge and skills required for renewable energy production, balancing supply and demand, and sustainability.