Session: Structural Design-2

Paper Number: 172754

172754 - Offshore Wind-Powered Hydrogen Production: An Integrated Model for Technical and Economic Feasibility Assessment 

Abstract: 

This research investigates the technical and economic feasibility of producing hydrogen from offshore wind energy. The proposed offshore wind-powered hydrogen production system comprises an offshore wind farm, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, a battery energy storage system (BESS), compressors, and water desalination units. An integrated mathematical model incorporating the power control system, BESS, compressors, desalination units, and an electrochemical model of the electrolyzers is developed in MATLAB/Simulink to simulate the entire process. Cost estimation of offshore wind-powered hydrogen production is performed, considering all relevant cost components. The model is applied to the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to estimate hydrogen production and the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH). Two scenarios are analyzed: offshore and onshore hydrogen production. In the offshore scenario, hydrogen is produced at sea and transported to shore via compressors and pipelines. In the onshore scenario, electricity is transmitted to shore through high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) cables, and hydrogen is produced on land. As wind velocity fluctuations adversely affect electrolyzer performance, a shutdown control strategy is implemented to mitigate this impact. The results indicate an LCOH between 4 and 5 USD/kg for offshore wind-powered hydrogen in the study region. A breakeven distance of 30 km from the coast is identified, beyond which offshore hydrogen production results in a lower LCOH compared to onshore production. The shutdown control strategy reduces electrolyzer shutdown occurrences by 62%, thereby enhancing performance and extending electrolyzer lifespan.

Presenting Author: Milad Shadman Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Presenting Author Biography: Visiting Professor at Ocean Engineering Department of the COPPE/Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Member of the Offshore Renewable Energy Group (GERO) of the UFRJ. Director at Pan-American Marine Energy Association (PAMEC.Energy). Coordinator of the Brazilian Mirror Committee of the IEC-114 on Marine Energy. Member of the Technical Committee of Offshore Wind and Marine Energy of the Brazilian Society of Naval Engineering (SOBENA). He has a D.Sc. in Ocean Engineering from UFRJ and more than 15 years of experience in R&D in offshore renewable energy systems. His main research areas include the design and structural control of floating wind turbines and wave energy converters, wave-powered water desalination, ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plants, and hydrogen from offshore renewable sources.

Authors:

Milad Shadman Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Jeferson De Almeida Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Iago Chaves Bastos Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Janito Dos Santos Ramos Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Robson Dias Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Paulo Emílio Valadão De Miranda Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Segen Estefen Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro