Session: Hybrid System & Substation

Paper Number: 165701

165701 - Hyfloat1: Semi-Submersible Platform Design Integrating Wind Generation, Electrolysis and Hydrogen Storage 

Abstract: 

The integration of hydrogen generation and storage with offshore floating wind turbines is a promising pathway for modular and scalable offshore renewable energy systems which can reduce reliance on electrical power grid systems. This study explores the feasibility of equipping semisubmersible floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) with electrolyser systems and hydrogen storage tanks, focusing on the impacts of storage tank mass variation on system dynamics. Semisubmersible platforms are particularly suitable for hydrogen storage integration due to their large water plane area and reduced sensitivity to changes in draft, allowing for stable operations despite the addition of significant mass. Numerical models were developed to simulate the coupled behaviour of HyFloat1 which comprises a 15 MW wind turbine mounted on the VolturnUS-S semisubmersible platform with a hydrogen production system and storage tanks. The analysis considers various scenarios of hydrogen tank dimensions, investigating the effects on natural frequencies, stability, and dynamic responses of the platform under standard load cases. The results demonstrate that optimal sizing and placement of hydrogen storage tanks can maintain stability while efficiently storing hydrogen, making semisubmersible FOWTs a feasible solution for renewable hydrogen production and storage. The findings contribute valuable insights into the design and operation of hybrid offshore wind-hydrogen systems, paving the way for enhanced utilization of offshore wind resources to support the energy transition.

Presenting Author: Paul Leahy School of Engineering, University College Cork,

Presenting Author Biography: Paul Leahy is Senior Lecturer in Wind Energy Engineering at University College Cork and Funded Investigator in the MaREI Research Centre for Climate, Energy and Marine. He leads a multidisciplinary research team focused on Wind Energy Integration; Green Hydrogen; Wind Turbine Circularity; and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. He is Principal Investigator of H-Wind, a unique industry-academic project on offshore wind to hydrogen conversion chains and HyFloat1, design and optimisation of a floating offshore platform integrating wind, electrolysis and hydrogen storage. He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy Multidisciplinary Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:

Dam Pham University College Cork
Quang Vu Dinh University College Cork
Paul Leahy School of Engineering, University College Cork,