Page 13 - EurOil Week 27 2019

EurOil PROJECTS & COMPANIES EurOil
Neptune platform to host new hydrogen plant
UK
LONDON-BASED oil explorer Neptune Energy is to take part in a groundbreaking project to build the first offshore hydrogen plant in the Dutch North Sea.
e pilot scheme, due to begin next year, was commissioned by NexStep, the Dutch associ- ation for decommissioning and re-use of oil and gas facilities, in partnership with scienti c research institution TNO. According to Nep- tune, it will involve the installation of a 1-MW electrolyser at the company’s Q13a platform, positioned 13km from the coastal town of Scheveningen.
Hydrogen produced at the unit will be shipped via pipeline to a nearby platform oper- ated by Abu Dhabi-based Taqi, where it will be used to generate electricity.
“ is pilot demonstrates the valuable role gas has to play in the integration of various energy systems, and underlines our commitment to adopting innovative technologies and support- ing a sustainable future for our business,” Nep- tune’s managing director for the Netherlands, Lex de Groot, said in a statement. “ e North Sea, where both wind and natural gas are abun- dantly available, is the perfect testing ground and
we are proud that our Q13a platform has been selected.”
According to de Groot, Q13a was chosen as a site because it was the rst platform in Dutch waters to become fully electri ed.
Hydrogen is billed as the fuel of the future, as countries around the world look to expand the use of cleaner energy sources. It can be used for heating, power and transportation, while releas- ing only heat and water without any harmful emissions.
Its production is another matter, however. Electrolysis is seen as one of the ideal ways of extracting the element, as the process can be powered by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. But most of the world’s hydro- gen is produced using steam methane reform- ing of natural gas, emitting carbon dioxide as a by-product.
Electrolysis is growing in popularity. Cana- dian developer Hydrogenics earlier this year won a contract from France’s Air Liquide to con- struct the world’s largest hydrogen electrolysis plant. e 20-MW system, which will be built in Canada, will turn out 3,000 tonnes per year (tpy) of hydrogen.™
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