As Global Warming Rises, Offshore Hydrogen Hubs Could Be Renewable Energy Carriers

Researchers at Texas A&M University are designing a green hydrogen production system using offshore wind energy.
October 28, 2024 By Grace Dalton

Though fall began on September 22, it still feels like summer for many in Texas and across the United States. Each year, summer temperatures occur earlier and last longer – a problem experienced across the globe. According to the U.N., the Earth is already about 1.1°C warmer than in the late 1800s and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.

One method to reduce the carbon footprint is through green hydrogen, an energy carrier produced by renewable energy sources. Its production contributes to global efforts to achieve the U.N.'s decarbonization goal to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Two researchers in the Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering at Texas A&M University are working toward this goal.

Dr. Keshawa Shukla, professor of practice in subsea engineering, and interdisciplinary engineering doctoral student Vy Le, are designing an offshore hydrogen hub that can produce green hydrogen from the electrolysis of water, using the electricity obtained from an offshore wind substation.

Dr. Shukla and Vy Le’s research involves designing an offshore fixed bottom hydrogen hub that produces and stores green hydrogen from water electrolysis using electricity generated from the renewable power source of an offshore fixed bottom wind farm known as a substation. This process splits water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Hydrogen is then processed, compressed, and stored onboard in liquid form. The economy of the hydrogen production system is evaluated using software for the existing offshore wind farms.

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