Hydrogen the key to the energy transition
Our future energy supply needs both green electrons (electricity) and green molecules. The electricity demand is currently only 20% of the final energy consumption in Europe. Sustainable hydrogen can play an important role in covering additional energy and raw material demands, and will obtain an important role for large scale energy storage. European ambitions envisage a hydrogen supply of 10 million tons in 2030 (8% of the current natural gas demand), to be scaled up for complete coverage of the future pan European hydrogen demand. In the Netherlands, the 4 major harbor areas are preparing large scale hydrogen production and industrial use, and the Gasunie aims to have a national hydrogen backbone operational in 2027 with a substantial transport capacity (10-15 GW). Much research is still needed for the large amount of questions surrounding these developments.
For more information, click here to read the TU Delft report (English version) or go to the information button.

Offshore hydrogen production
With the European plans for the development of large off-shore wind farms, off-shore hydrogen production can become an interesting option. The North Sea will presumably accommodate half of the European offshore wind power (with over 200 GW installed capacity) and is an interesting domain for research.   An important aspect is that gas transport over longer distances is substantially cheaper than electricity transport per unit energy, making larger parts of the North Sea attractive for energy production. Hydrogen can be stored in salt caverns that can be created in the large salt formations under the North Sea bottom, or in empty gas fields.  Floating structures can provide space for central equipment such as electrolyzers and compressors. The costs of electrolyzers must come down, and they must be able to handle the fluctuating wind patterns. Wind turbines require a dedicated design to perform optimally for hydrogen or hybrid energy production. The TU Delft covers these aspects, and in a series of videos researchers explain their efforts to contribute to this development.
Click here or on the video button below to watch the ideas and contributions by TU Delft researchers.