Siemens to invest $146 million to develop all-in-one hydrogen offshore turbine
Siemens Gamesa, a Spanish-German wind engineering, and Siemens Energy, a German energy technology giant said that they are developing the offshore wind turbine to produce green hydrogen through electrolysis.
The idea of integrating hydrogen production with the wind turbine is quite revolutionary, and a few pilot projects already started working to explore the technology.
The project will make the prototype technology ready for demonstration over the next five years. Both companies have allocated a substantial amount of budget for technology development. Siemens Gamesa will invest EUR 80 million (US$ 97 million), and Siemens Energy plans to invest EUR 40 million (US$ 49 million) on technology development.
This substantial financial commitment shows the companies high confidence in the hydrogen economy to help reduce emission. Both will also try to keep ahead of their rivals Vestas and GE.
Siemens Gamesa, the world’s largest offshore wind turbine maker, is 67% owned by Siemens Energy. Both companies will develop a solution that will integrate an electrolyser in the offshore wind turbine to turn it a compact synchronised unit to produce green hydrogen directly.
Siemens Gamesa will base its most powerful turbine, the SG 14-222 DD offshore wind turbine for the new technology. Siemens Energy will develop a new electrolysis product suitable for offshore maritime conditions.
