The Role of Offshore Hubs
North Sea Energy Hubs can be important stepping-stones for large-scale system integration and therefore are one of the central elements in the North Sea Energy programme. Energy hubs are defined as offshore energy systems where production, conversion and/or storage of energy commodities (electricity, natural gas, hydrogen) and CO₂ are co-located. Transport of energy commodities and CO₂ to and from shore takes place via national transport corridors and/or via international interconnections. In this way, energy hubs are search areas for offshore system integration opportunities, i.e., where activities such as electricity production, CO₂ transport and storage, offshore hydrogen production and platform electrification for (green-field) natural gas production can be combined.
The momentum is growing towards developing these hubs on or around the North Sea. Consortia such as North Sea Wind Power Hub, Aquaventus are investigating the possibilities of offshore hubs (combination of platforms and/or energy island) with a focus on offshore integration of offshore wind and hydrogen. The Danish government has agreed to build two "energy islands" with a minimum capacity of 2x2 GW (wind electricity) and intends to convert low-carbon electricity from the energy islands to green hydrogen. In Belgium, the TSO Elia is preparing an offshore energy island collecting up to 3.5 GW of wind and being a hub for interconnectors to Denmark and the UK. The plan is to have the island fully commissioned by 2030.
In the North Sea Energy programme a broader concept is adhered to as we also integrate natural gas and CO₂ into the possible energy commodities that can be smartly connected in offshore hubs.
In this phase of the North Sea Energy programme, three offshore energy hub areas in the North Sea were conceptually developed. The three hubs took into account the specific offshore environment and stakeholder presence in the West, East and North regions of the Dutch North Sea.
In total the development of the three integrated energy hubs would cost 62 - 75 billion euros with wind farms at 34 GW accounting for 47 - 50% of system costs across all storylines considered. The hubs together contribute towards achieving the minimum Dutch offshore wind target (32 GW) for 2050. They will produce green electricity amounting to 181 TWh/yr and convert a share of this to approximately 1.2 Mt of hydrogen. Natural gas production is estimated to be 7.4 bcm/yr (equivalent to 20% of the 2021 Dutch natural gas demand). CO2 storage is considered in several depleted fields in the North Sea, with the total CO2 stored amounting to 27 Mt/yr.
The insights generated from the hub scenarios can support informed decision making by industry and policy makers. The three North Sea Energy Hubs studied can, individually and in combination, be important stepping-stones for large-scale system integration in the North Sea and also offer insights for other offshore system integration projects globally.
Locations of Energy Hubs at and around the North Sea. Search Areas for Hubs in the North Sea Energy Program are Highlighted: Hub West, Hub East, and Hub North.
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