Europe has the potential to produce 300 terawatt hours (TWh) of hydrogen using electricity from offshore wind farms in the North Sea by 2050, according to a new DNV report.

The ‘Specification of a European Offshore Hydrogen Backbone’ study, commissioned to DNV by infrastructure system operators GASCADE and Fluxys, highlights the significant advantages of an offshore hydrogen backbone in the North and Baltic Seas.

Offshore hydrogen production is paramount to meet the substantial increase expected in European hydrogen demand, as hydrogen is due to play a significant role as a low-carbon energy carrier – not only to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, but also to boost security of energy supply in Europe.

Ulrich Benterbusch, GASCADE Managing Director, said the EU expects demand for climate-neutral hydrogen to reach 2,000TWh by 2050, and DNV sees the potential to produce 300TWh of hydrogen using electricity from offshore wind farms in the North Sea.