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The first phase of the project studied the feasibility of creating a market for the production of green hydrogen from offshore wind energy and concluded that economic viability will be achieved once the green hydrogen industry and value chain reach a stage of maturity. Project BEHYOND was headed by EDP, as part of a consortium comprising TechnipFMC, CEiiA, WavEC, and Norwegian University USN.

Project BEHYOND has just finished studying the technical and economic feasibility of generating green hydrogen from wind produced offshore, where wind resources abound. During this phase, which due to its innovative nature was sponsored by European funds, the project studied various configurations for an offshore hydrogen production module in which electrolysis is carried out using energy produced by offshore wind farms.

This study offers a strategic assessment of the creation of an offshore wind-hydrogen market, which could make a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the planet. Offshore wind energy production is expected to grow significantly over the course of this decade, and project BEHYOND shows that there is potential for dual renewable production in the same location, creating synergies in terms of infrastructure, energy transport cables, and grid points. The configuration studied by BEHYOND can be implemented all over the world, producing and transferring hydrogen on a large scale. This technological development represents a breakthrough for the creation of the hydrogen value chain, as part of a blue economy, and could be a solution to boost the competitiveness of offshore wind farms.

This first phase of the project concluded that economic viability will be achieved once the green hydrogen industry and value chain reach a stage of maturity, as well as with the help of investment from companies that are positioning themselves in the hydrogen market, complemented by innovation support funds. Another way to improve this economic viability is to provide incentives that will help the industry accelerate the decarbonization process, thus increasing the demand for renewable energy.

EDP coordinated this project through EDP NEW R&D and EDP Inovação. It was also in charge of the strategic assessment of the offshore wind-hydrogen market, the definition of business cases, and the technological innovation that will make it possible to launch these solutions in the market.

Project BEHYOND brings together EDP and TechnipFMC, a leading company in the development of offshore engineering projects and solutions, as well as research centers CEiiA – Centro de Engenharia e Desenvolvimento (Center for Engineering and Development), WavEC-Offshore Renewables, and the University of South-Eastern Norway. The work that has been carried out will allow the aforementioned Portuguese research centers to offer innovative solutions and consultancy services to engineering companies, and is also an opportunity to ramp up cooperation between academia, research centers and domestic/international companies in order to tackle the challenges facing the energy sector. 

FINANCING

About EEA GRANTS
Through the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are partners, in the internal market, of the Member States of the European Union.

As a way of promoting a continuous and balanced strengthening of the economic and trade relations, the parties of the European Economic Area Agreement have established a Multiannual Financial Mechanism, known as the EEA Grants.

The EEA Grants aim to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe and to strengthen bilateral relations between these three countries and the beneficiary countries.

For the 2014-2021 period, a total contribution of €2.8 billion has been committed to 15 beneficiary countries. Portugal will benefit from a budget of €102.7 million.

For further information, please visit: eeagrants.gov.pt

EDP, TechnipFMC and Partners Join Forces to Develop a Concept Study for Green Hydrogen Production from Offshore Wind Power

LONDON & HOUSTON, July 12, 2021 — EDP, TechnipFMC (NYSE: FTI) (PARIS: FTI) and other research partners are joining forces to develop a conceptual engineering and economic feasibility study for a new offshore system for green hydrogen production from offshore wind power, called the BEHYOND project. The study will include innovative integration of equipment for the production and conditioning of green hydrogen and infrastructure that allows for its transportation to the coast. The goal is to create a unique concept that can be standardized and implemented worldwide, allowing for large-scale hydrogen production.

BEHYOND brings together global players in energy, EDP and TechnipFMC, with the CEiiA research center – Center for Engineering and Development, WavEC-Offshore Renewables, and the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN). The joint development will allow the consortium partners to position themselves in the hydrogen value chain, developing new business models and creating engineering solutions, new products and services for the hydrogen sector, worldwide.

This consortium will strengthen cooperation between Portugal and Norway and increase Portugal’s competitiveness in the growth of the “blue economy.” The BEHYOND project was selected for support by the Blue Growth Programme of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism (EEA Grants).

EDP, through the participation of EDP NEW and EDP Inovação, is the project coordinator and the entity responsible for the implementation of several phases, namely the strategic evaluation of the offshore wind-to-hydrogen market, the definition of viable business cases and the technology roadmap to reach commercial maturity.

Each member of the consortium brings specific competences that are complementary:

• EDP brings expertise in the development of offshore wind and in the implementation of innovative and complex projects, such as the WindFloat, a pioneer floating offshore solution.
• TechnipFMC brings its extended history in subsea engineering, expertise developed on its Deep Purple™ green hydrogen project, and essential system integration abilities.
• CEiiA has extended its experience of developing complex structures for sectors, including aerospace into the marine environment, and has competencies in systems, electronics, and connectivity.
• WavEC Offshore Renewables is a R&D consultancy encompassing all marine renewable technologies, and a reference institution in the field in Europe.
• USN is applying systems engineering techniques to gain early understanding of the needs of the overall systems, reducing risks in the latter phases.

“The BEHYOND project will allow EDP to acquire the required know-how to enter new markets with clear synergies with our core activities. Green hydrogen produced from renewables is likely to become a key lever in the world’s decarbonization effort while mitigating the variability of offshore renewables and enhancing energy system’s flexibility. But we need to act now, in collaboration with the best technology and R&D partners, to address all the main technical and business challenges. For this reason, we are very enthusiastic to partner with TechnipFMC, a leader in the offshore sector with a growing sustainability vision and demonstrated engineering expertise. Moreover, by leading the BEHYOND project, EDP is anticipating a key trend and preparing the company for the future of energy”, said Ana Paula Marques, executive board member of EDP.

Hydrogen is a strategic area in the global development of clean energies and in which EDP aims to invest worldwide. By leading the BEHYOND project, the company is anticipating, leading the key trend and contributing to a sustainable future.

Jonathan Landes, President, Subsea at TechnipFMC, said, “We have the skills and expertise to contribute value to this study from our decades of experience in subsea, as well as the knowledge we have built during our ongoing Deep Purple™ green hydrogen project. The BEHYOND study also fits with our longer-term ESG goals. The involvement of a company with EDP’s strong market position demonstrates the increased focus and interest in the evolution of offshore hydrogen technology, as well as its potential to help meet the world’s long-term energy needs.”

About hydrogen

Hydrogen will be central to the future of the energy sector, decarbonizing sectors that are hard to electrify while mitigating the technical and economic impacts of intermittent renewable energy. These aspects will both be crucial to achieving the zero-emission social target. According to the European Hydrogen Strategy, the need for green hydrogen production in Europe will grow substantially and could account for 24% of energy demand in 2050, which will require the large-scale development of hydrogen-producing renewable energies solutions, both domestically and offshore. In this context, the production of offshore hydrogen has aroused more and more interest as a solution able to take advantage of natural resources, such as the abundant wind on the high seas, thus mitigating congestion on the electricity grid on land and providing a more economical means of transportation to the land.

BEHYOND project participated at the EEA Grants project session that took place on the 28^th of January, online.

More information on EEA Grants projects check the website: https://www.eeagrants.gov.pt/en/