The new scene! LOHC technology provides an efficient storage and transportation scheme for hydrogen production in offshore wind power

On September 13th, Wang Yin, the Vice-general Manager of Beijing Hywin Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as "Hywin"), delivered a keynote speech titled "An Integrated Solution for Green Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Transportation from Offshore Wind Power Based on LOHC Technology" at the 2024 Marine Energy Industry Integration Forum and Expo. He proposed that leveraging Hywin's research and development and engineering practice advantages in LOHC technology will provide an efficient hydrogen storage and transportation solution for offshore wind power projects to owners.

An integrated solution for green hydrogen production, storage, and transportation based on LOHC technology from offshore wind power involves using a seawater desalination system to separate fresh water. Hydrogen is then produced through electrolysis and stored using LOHC technology. According to the hydrogen demand, the hydrogen storage liquid is transported to land-based storage or usage via shuttle hydrogen transport vessels. This solution features several innovative design points, primarily: 1. the entire hydrogen production and storage process is set up in an integrated unit of offshore wind turbines, and by considering the structural characteristics of the pile foundation sections, the storage space for organic liquid hydrogen has been cleverly designed, especially placing the storage area within the central cylinder of the two-layer platform of a single pile foundation. This eliminates the need for additional space for hydrogen storage tanks, making better use of the limited space on offshore wind platforms; 2.   no special manufacturing is required, as existing ordinary liquid chemical transport ships can be used as organic liquid hydrogen transport vessels. Their liquid storage compartments are connected to the offshore platform via transfer hoses, allowing for convenient transfer of hydrogen storage liquid between the ship and the offshore platform through pumping; 3.   the heat generated during the hydrogenation process is supplied to the hydrogen purification system for operation, achieving thermal coupling with the purification system and ensuring efficient energy recycling and reuse.

The Vice-general Manager of Hywin Hydrogen Energy, Wang Yin, pointed out that the key challenge in the scenario of hydrogen production from offshore wind power is the storage and transportation of hydrogen. Offshore platforms have limited space, high-pressure gas cylinders have low storage density, and pipeline construction costs are extremely high, unable to meet the needs of both the hydrogen production and supply ends simultaneously. LOHC technology has a high hydrogen storage density, significantly reduces the area required compared to gaseous hydrogen storage, and the hydrogen storage liquid is classified as Class B propylene, inherently safe, with high compatibility with offshore platforms; transporting the hydrogen carrier via ordinary liquid cargo ships at normal temperature and pressure is cost-effective. The technology and application scenarios are innovative and have excellent demonstration significance. This solution was jointly studied and proposed by Hywin, Jilin Electric Power Co., Ltd., and Shandong Electric Power Engineering Consulting Institute Co., Ltd. Building hydrogen production and storage systems on offshore platforms can clarify technical routes for future large-scale offshore wind power hydrogen production, deep-sea off-grid hydrogen production, offshore hydrogen production, and chemical coupling scenarios, providing typical demonstration applications and beneficial references for the development of offshore wind power projects. In the next step, Hywin will collaborate with relevant industrial partners to innovate and establish a demonstration project for integrated green hydrogen production, storage, and transportation from offshore wind power, promoting the engineering application of the solution.