The vision on energy system integration in the North Sea
Considering the vast potential, but also the challenges ahead the North Sea Energy program consortium has crafted a vision on how the North Sea could look in the year 2050. This gives direction and also responsibilities to the stakeholders involved in translating this vision into a common mission and, eventually, a reality.
In 2050 our North Sea will be a thriving energy region that would have achieved carbon neutrality, perhaps becoming a net negative carbon sink for Europe allowing for atmospheric carbon dioxide reduction. A mix of low carbon energy solutions would have been deployed, delivering secure and affordable energy for nations on its coastline and the hinterland. It would have become the offshore pioneering region that was and remains an important innovation nucleus for global offshore energy solutions.
The integrated energy system is dominated by offshore wind which will be brought to shore in the form of electrons and molecules. Intertwined electricity and hydrogen networks will provide flexibility and connect the countries via offshore energy hubs that will facilitate the collection, transmission, conversion and storage of energy. A limited set of assets from the legacy hydrocarbon infrastructure will still have a strategic function in this future offshore energy system; predominantly in the form of subsurface assets that will facilitate the underground storage of vast amounts of CO₂ and hydrogen for strategic buffering. Also, the hydrocarbon pipelines would have been put to use in the energy transition as part a of the offshore hydrogen backbone connecting the North Sea countries.
The North Sea region would have grown to become a hydrogen hub of global relevance reaping the benefits from low carbon hydrogen production from abundant offshore wind and remnant natural gas reforming in combination with CO₂ storage – yielding a balanced supply of green and blue hydrogen. Import and export of hydrogen will complete the mix while strategic subsurface storage assets in combination with import/export terminal storage capacity in the harbor areas will allow for unique trading hub capabilities. The North Sea area would be home to the largest industrial ports in Europe connecting offshore hubs to the world and the hinterland.
Stakeholders have found the delicate balance to include many use functions to support our economy, safety and nature. The vast energy potential of the region would have been unfolded by removing energy sector boundaries and crossing national bridges. The new energy era has provided livelihoods to millions of people by reshaping the existing workforce and creating new sustainable jobs for decades to come. Nature inclusive design and operation principles would have led to an improvement of biodiversity in the North Sea while maintaining ecologically sustainable fish stocks. When parts of assets reach the end of their lifetime, they would have been carefully decommissioned and the materials harvested to be utilized as resource for new equipment. Also in terms of material usage, the North Sea would have become a self-sustaining system with a small and preservable footprint on the earth.