Comparison of offshore and onshore hydrogen production from offshore wind

Previous studies by the same authors optimise the infrastructure of a reversible Solid Oxide Cell (rSOC) system for offshore hydrogen production from an offshore wind farm. The current study investigates onshore hydrogen production, optimising rSOC, hydrogen storage and subsea cable capacities based on Capex for hydrogen storage, subsea connection, and rSOC system, as well as electricity prices and the value of non-reconverted hydrogen, thanks to energy system modelling for hourly fluctuations over the duration of a year. The simulation reveals that average day-ahead electricity prices and their fluctuations significantly influence optimization. Low electricity prices favour keeping hydrogen as a gas, whereas high prices justify the increased Capex for reconverting hydrogen into electricity using a reversible system. This trend holds both for onshore and offshore cases. However, onshore scenarios generally require higher capacities for rSOC and standalone fuel cell modes, which are sometimes recommended only onshore.