Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has produced the first green hydrogen from an electrolyser powered by a dedicated wind turbine.

The hydrogen was produced at the Brande Hydrogen test site in western Denmark using an existing 3MW Siemens Gamesa onshore wind turbine coupled with an electrolyser stack from Danish company Green Hydrogen Systems. The turbine was not connected to the electricity grid.

The project is designed to further the firm’s understanding of how to integrate an electrolyser with a variable power source operating independently of the electricity grid.

“Our hydrogen-producing wind turbine is an example of the innovative projects that will help shape the emerging clean-fuel market and accelerate the green energy transition as we integrate unprecedented amounts of renewable energy into the energy system,” says Poul Skjaebaek, chief innovation officer at Siemens Gamesa.

“Our hydrogen-producing wind turbine is an example of the innovative projects that will help shape the emerging clean-fuel market” Skjaebaek, Siemens Gamesa

Green hydrogen produced at Brande has been delivered to Danish company Everfuel for distribution to hydrogen vehicle fuelling stations across the country.

“Distributing 100pc green hydrogen fuel from Brande is a significant milestone for Everfuel, and we are proud to be the first to offtake green hydrogen in island mode from wind energy,” says Jacob Krogsgaard, CEO for Everfuel.

Most countries in the EU still have a significant amount of fossil fuel generation on their electricity grids, meaning that grid-connected electrolysers will not always produce low-carbon hydrogen.

Less than 3t CO₂ must be emitted per 1t of hydrogen produced for the fuel to be considered low carbon, according to EU regulations. Analysis by consultancy Aurora Energy Research shows only the power grids in Norway, Sweden and France would be sufficiently decarbonised to meet this threshold by 2030.

As a result, many proposed green hydrogen projects in the EU are considering using dedicated renewable assets. But intermittency of generation is an issue, leading to many looking at storage or back-up power solutions.

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Author: Stuart Penson