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A consortium led by Eni Energy Netherlands has produced green hydrogen for the first time on an operational offshore platform in the North Sea, marking what backers call a world first in combining offshore wind power, natural gas production and hydrogen generation at sea.
Context: offshore hydrogen enters a testing phase
The milestone comes as developers and policymakers weigh whether offshore electrolysis can complement onshore hydrogen capacity, which has so far dominated Europe’s build-out. Proponents argue that higher and steadier wind speeds offshore could improve capacity factors and lower electricity costs — which can account for up to 70 percent of green hydrogen production expenses — while critics counter that offshore production remains costly and technically complex relative to expanding onshore grid capacity.
Project details: Q13a-A platform and technical set-up
The pilot operates on the Q13a-A platform, located roughly 13 kilometers off the coast of Scheveningen and described as the first fully electrified production platform in the Dutch North Sea. Seawater is converted into demineralized water and then split into hydrogen through electrolysis, with power supplied by offshore wind. According to earlier project communications, the facility uses a containerized 1.25MW electrolyzer supplied by Norwegian manufacturer Nel, with prior targets of 500 kg of hydrogen output per day; the volume actually produced during this test run, and the platform’s eventual full capacity, have not been disclosed.
Stakeholders and blending plans
The project involves a consortium including DEME, EBN, Eneco, Emerson, Gasunie, Hatenboerwater, Investa Expertise Centre, IV Offshore & Energy, Nel, Eni, Nexstep, NGT, Nogat, TAQA and TNO, with backing from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. Announcements from 2021 indicated that once fully operational, the hydrogen produced would be blended with natural gas and transported via existing pipelines to the Netherlands coast.
Quote: managing risk and cost in scale-up
Rene Peters, Business Director Energy Infrastructure at TNO, said the pilot marks a step toward scaling up offshore hydrogen production based on offshore wind. He added that the project offers knowledge and practical experience essential for larger-scale offshore hydrogen production, helping to reduce risks and control costs more effectively.
Testing schedule and next steps
The current test phase is focused first on achieving stable system operation, before shifting to assess how the electrolyzer responds to fluctuations in offshore wind generation. Findings will be compiled in August and September, with results shared with the hydrogen sector in the autumn.
Implications for industry and policymakers
The pilot provides an early, if limited, data point on the operational and cost realities of pairing offshore wind directly with hydrogen production — a model that could reduce reliance on subsea power cables and onshore grid capacity if proven viable. But the absence of disclosed output volumes, combined with persistent cost disadvantages against onshore alternatives, means the project’s findings this autumn will be closely watched before any conclusions are drawn about offshore electrolysis becoming commercially competitive.
