This summer has seen an important development in the energy shift in the North Sea. A groundbreaking PosHYdon pilot project succeeded in green hydrogen production on operational North Sea platform Q13a-A, which is operated by Eni Energy Netherlands.
It is worth noting that PosHYdon is the first project in the world to integrate offshore wind power and hydrogen production with natural gas production at sea. The project was made possible with the support of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, TNO, EBN – Energie Beheer Nederland, and a wide range of suppliers and partners.
The Q13a-A platform which has made way for green hydrogen production on operational North Sea platform is situated roughly 13 km from the Dutch coast near Scheveningen, is the very first 100% electrified production platform which is located in the Dutch North Sea. The seawater in this project is transformed into demineralized water and then transformed into hydrogen by means of electrolysis. The electricity needed for this procedure is generated through offshore wind energy.
Notably, PosHYdon is an endeavour of EBN, DEME, Eneco, Emerson, Gasunie, Hatenboerwater, Investa Expertise Centrum, Iv, Nel, Eni, Nexstep, NGT, Nogat, TAQA as well as TNO.
The aim of the pilot is to learn how to integrate several energy systems offshore and produce hydrogen that too in a marine environment. The project also evaluates the efficiency of an electrolyser when using the variable result of the wind energy. Furthermore, insight is gained on the expenses and maintenance needs as well as the operational efficiency of offshore hydrogen installations.
As per the Business Director Energy Infrastructure from TNO, Rene Peters,“This project is an important step in scaling up offshore hydrogen production based on offshore wind energy. The pilot offers the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and practical experience that are essential for the further development of large-scale offshore hydrogen production. This helps to reduce risks and control costs more effectively.”
The Managing Director of Eni Energy Netherlands & Vice-President Element NL, Lex de Groot, says that “It is remarkable to see that, together with all these public and private partners, we have been able to achieve a world first through PosHYdon. The reuse of existing offshore platforms for sustainable applications is now becoming a tangible reality. Together, we are taking a meaningful step towards a future offshore energy system in the North Sea.”
Green hydrogen will be produced during the test period. The initial objective is the stable functioning of the system. Then tests will explore how far the system can react to variations in offshore wind power generation. The whole operational method was evaluated in terms of safety and ecological impact, and significant practical data could be collected. Important results from the pilot will be analyzed and compiled in August and September 2026, with outcomes expected to be communicated with the hydrogen sector in the autumn.