Wind power will soon become a more reliable source of electricity thanks to new technologies. Several parties are now working on the synthesis and storage of hydrogen using wind energy so that extra energy can be used when the wind is not blowing.
One of the most effective non-fossil energy sources for reducing global warming is wind power, and it is growing quickly. Since the need for fossil-free energy rises quickly, wind power, which presently produces 17% of all the energy in Europe, is thought to be critically essential to achieving the green transition.
Wind energy, however, is influenced by the weather. When winds are at their greatest in the fall and winter, wind turbines create the most electricity. Nevertheless, production varies from day to day depending on how much wind blows. To store the energy generated by wind turbines so that it may be used when the wind is not blowing, however, new technologies may soon make this possible. Thomas Hjort, Director of Innovation and Offshore Wind Development at Vattenfall, delivered this message.
The goal of this project is to develop wind turbines that generate hydrogen gas instead of electricity. The energy can then be used without wind by storing the hydrogen. This presents an incredible opportunity to increase the amount of reliable, fossil-free energy that is produced, which is essential if we are to make the green transition, according to Hjort.
Allows for the reduction of carbon emissions in the industry
Restructuring the energy system in the EU and the rest of the globe should focus on producing renewable hydrogen using green energy. Heavy industry, notably steel mills, has been cited as a strong facilitator for hydrogen to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. According to estimates, the yearly production of hydrogen must expand fivefold, requiring 21,000 TWh of power annually, to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions in the industry.
“Hydrogen gas can already be used to store wind energy. Electricity generated by offshore wind turbines is sent via copper cables to land-based hydrogen production facilities. This strategy has several drawbacks. The conversion process consumes a disproportionately huge amount of energy and is quite expensive. It is substantially more cost-effective and efficient to construct wind turbines that directly produce hydrogen and then transmit the gas via pipes for storage on land, according to Hjort.
“A petrol line’s capacity is significantly higher than an electricity supply cable. However, petrol lines themselves are considerably less expensive than the copper cables that are currently used to produce electricity, according to him.
To establish an 8 MW pilot on a wind farm in Aberdeen Bay in the North Sea, Vattenfall has conducted research and collaborated with several vendors.
Perhaps very soon
Offshore wind power is currently receiving a lot of attention. Because the winds at sea are frequently stronger and more reliable, it is possible to construct larger, more effective wind farms. Also, there are fewer barriers to the construction of new wind farms because they are situated distant from areas where people live.
According to Thomas Hjort, offshore wind energy with hydrogen storage will soon be a reliable and climate-conscious energy source.
The technology is available. We are confident that it functions. The difficulty right now is that production must be increased for it to be profitable. This needs to happen concurrently with rising industry demand. Businesses must view this as an asset if they are to dare to change, but to raise the asset’s worth, demand must also rise, according to Hjort.
