New Insights: The Third Offshore Hydrogen Ramp-up MOHN Workshop
It is great to see that the offshore hydrogen industry is making significant strides towards its ambitious goals, as evidenced by the recent MOHN workshop held at the HEROW knowledge sharing platform in the Netherlands. The workshop, which marked the third offshore hydrogen ramp-up event, brought together key stakeholders to discuss and refine the success factors and challenges in this emerging field. Hosted by TNO and TKI Offshore Energy, the workshop proved to be a platform for insightful discussions and collaboration.
The session commenced with an update from the Ministry by Rene Peters from TNO, shedding light on the progress made with Demo 1 and Demo 2. Bob Meijer from TKI Offshore Energy then shared intriguing insights from the offshore wind industry, drawing parallels to offshore hydrogen and emphasizing the importance of cost reduction. These presentations set the stage for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion.
Under the guidance of expert facilitators Meiko Neumann and Meryem Maghrebi from cruh21 , Daniela Hegern from Fraunhofer IEG, Rene Peters, and Susan Haasdijk (TNO), the workshop attendees were divided into four working groups. These groups focused on refining the success factors and addressing the current challenges faced by offshore hydrogen ramp-up in the Netherlands. The expertise and valuable insights shared by the local experts fostered a collaborative and dynamic learning environment, allowing for the identification of key priorities and potential solutions.
Several stimulating takeaways that hold immense significance for the future of offshore hydrogen were generated. One pressing issue that emerged was the urgent need to unify the currently applicable legal frameworks and drive forward public Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies. Additionally, participants stressed the importance of establishing a collaborative learning process from Demo 1 to facilitate a smooth commercial scale-up with Demo 2. Adapting gas laws to permit hydrogen blends in existing pipelines was also highlighted as a crucial step towards enabling quick and efficient transport options for Demo 1. Furthermore, the establishment of clear guidelines and targets for hydrogen use within the Dutch industry, as outlined in the Hydrogen roadmap, could create the necessary demand for the technology.
The success of the MOHN workshop can be attributed to the fruitful cooperation between TNO, TKI Offshore Energy, and the active participation of the attendees. The event not only provided a platform for knowledge exchange but also fostered meaningful collaborations among industry experts. With these valuable insights and collective efforts, the offshore hydrogen industry in the Netherlands is poised to overcome challenges and accelerate its development, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.
