Hydrogen infrastructure is expanding as the world transitions to a clean energy system. According to the International Energy Agency’s Global Hydrogen Review 2024, investment in hydrogen projects doubled last year, with production estimated to reach 49 million metric tons annually by 2030. Achieving this goal will require extensive infrastructure, and a Scottish company has devised a marine hydrogen highway using sea buoys.
A hydrogen buoy? Scottish company Oasis Marine has developed industrial buoys that provide green hydrogen and electric charging for ships at sea, forming part of a marine hydrogen highway.
The company aims to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The hydrogen buoy was tested under the TestHOTS project, supported by the Scottish Government’s Emerging Energy Technologies Fund’s Hydrogen Innovation Scheme.
Hydrogen highway? Oasis Marine plans to strategically deploy hydrogen buoys in major shipping lanes and near offshore wind farms, creating offshore vessel refueling stations. The buoys’ hydrogen storage and distribution capabilities could also support oil rigs looking to electrify or convert operations to hydrogen.
The design. The system includes intelligent mooring buoys capable of delivering hydrogen fuel to ships at sea. The Oasis Hydrogen Buoy and Oasis Power Buoy will supply green hydrogen produced via water electrolysis powered by electricity from offshore wind farms. Ships can connect to the buoys while moored offshore to refuel with hydrogen or charge electric batteries without returning to port.
The buoys feature advanced anchoring and fuel transfer systems designed to function in rough sea conditions. Oasis Marine reported successful results from wave tank testing.
Similar structures in europe. Across Europe, hydrogen is emerging as an alternative energy source to reduce dependence on Russian gas.
Hydrogen projects in various countries showcase different approaches to the transition and meeting energy targets. The European Commission’s REPowerEU program aims to produce 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen and import another 10 million tons by 2030.
Image | Oasis Marine | Andrew Dawes (Unsplash)
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