Floating wind and offshore hydrogen production: a beautiful marriage of technologies

The Dolphyn Project aims to develop a new concept allowing for the production of green hydrogen on a bulk-scale through the combination of offshore wind and hydrogen production on an integrated floating system.

After a successful conceptual phase completed in Autumn 2019, the project is currently going through a design phase on which Tractebel has been appointed by ERM to develop the structural design alongside electrical integration. For the structural aspects, Tractebel is continuing its collaboration with Principle Power Inc., which will provide an adapted design based on the Windfloat technology. Other packages including the project topside design and electrolyser marinisation are within the responsibilities of ODE (Offshore Design Engineering), Lloyds Register, Doosan Babcock and Nel Hydrogen.

For us at Tractebel, we believe that this project fits perfectly in the ambition to take a leading role in the further development of floating wind and offshore hydrogen production. We are convinced that these technologies have the potential to contribute in an important way to a carbon neutral future, for which more than 50% of CO2 emission reductions is said to be the result of today emerging technologies. These new technologies, instrumental in mitigating climate change, are for us amongst the most important contributions within the frame of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“Through the application of their proven track record and market knowledge in floating offshore wind Tractebel has assisted in taking forward this project to this current phase. Their expertise in structural design, electrical micro-grid integration and knowledge of the offshore hydrogen market all bring added value to the project. With Tractebel and other partners we are confident we can make this project a success and contribute to a bright future in offshore energy.” Chris Wynne, ERM Global Director of Commercial Value and Pricing, on the added value of Tractebel’s input.

To conclude, the collaboration in this project is seen as a key milestone with regards to Tractebel’s global ambitions in offshore energy. Being one of the rare consultancy firms with hands-on experience in floating offshore wind (amongst others in the Windfloat Atlantic Project), different developments in offshore hydrogen, offshore floating solar, we continue to move forward on the different building blocks for an integrated (and carbon neutral) offshore energy scheme.