Neptune Energy joins European Clean Hydrogen Alliance

Neptune Energy has joined the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, supporting the development of the EU’s hydrogen strategy. The alliance brings together industry, public authorities and civil society and forms part of the EU's strategy to support efforts for Europe to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The Netherlands is particularly well-positioned to lead the transition to a hydrogen economy, given the abundance of wind energy and existing infrastructure at sea and on land for the transport of gas and hydrogen molecules, reports Neptune Energy. The company is involved in the PosHYdon project, a pilot initiative of Nexstep, the Dutch association for decommissioning and reuse, and TNO in close collaboration with the industry. The aim of the pilot is to gain experience of integrating working energy systems at sea and the production of hydrogen in an offshore environment. Electricity generated by offshore wind turbines will be used to power a hydrogen plant on the Neptune-operated Q13a platform, converting seawater into demineralised water, then into hydrogen via electrolysis. The Q13a platform is the first fully electrified platform in the Dutch North Sea.

Lex de Groot, Managing Director, Neptune Energy, says: ‘There is a growing consensus internationally that hydrogen will be required at scale in order for countries to meet the ambitious targets set out by the Paris Agreement. Hydrogen offers a solution to lower emissions in many hard-to-abate sectors, such as steel and heavy-duty transport. It can provide long-term energy storage at scale, support improvements in air quality and strengthen energy security.’