The UK, particularly Scotland, is well-positioned to lead in offshore wind energy.

However, the variability of wind generation often leads to mismatches with onshore energy demand. Grid-integrated hydrogen production, both onshore and offshore, using electrolysis offers a scalable, flexible solution to minimise curtailment and maximise revenue. This approach supports deeper decarbonisation and enhances energy system resilience.

This webinar, led by Jamie Paul, Hydrogen and LNG Lead and Alicia Bahler, Process Lead – Hydrogen at Mott MacDonald, will explore several hydrogen production concepts, including onshore, offshore platform-based, artificial island-based, and turbine-integrated approaches. Each will be assessed for its relative merits, with offshore production shown to be complex yet potentially competitive and impactful.

The session will also cover the benefits of large-scale hydrogen storage, such as subsea pipelines, salt caverns, and depleted gas reservoirs, and the importance of integrating energy systems across the North Sea and Europe to better align supply with demand. It will conclude by highlighting the transformative potential of a fully integrated North Sea energy system.

This analysis is based on Mott MacDonald‘s work on the North Sea Wind Power Hub (NSWPH) programme, the HyOne Offshore Hydrogen Compression Studies, the development of the Demo 1 offshore hydrogen production and compression design, and their support to the Dutch Government through the Energy Infrastructure Plan North Sea (EIPN).

Discussion papers from the NSWPH programme are available online for an insight into their work, including ‘Offshore Energy Hubs: Blueprints with Offshore Electrolysis’ and the ‘North Sea Wind Power Hub’.

Key takeaways:

• Flexibility in energy storage and transfer is essential
• Offshore hydrogen production can compete with onshore
• The North Sea holds vast potential for wind and green hydrogen

Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d71fa7b9-ad4a-4610-9ec1-4f1adf0338e3@ac38fa5a-674b-4c32-810a-1aba0bd61a31

About our speakers:

Jamie Paul is Mott MacDonald’s Hydrogen and LNG Lead with 24 years’ experience across oil and gas and hydrogen. Since joining Mott MacDonald he has focussed on delivering hydrogen projects, specialising in grid integrated onshore and offshore hydrogen production. His work leading the North Sea Wind Power Hub programme and the associated projects focussing on offshore and onshore hydrogen production and compression solutions gives him insight into the relative merits of different hydrogen production solutions and the challenges in integrating them with offshore wind.

Alicia Bahler is a chartered chemical engineer with over 14 years’ experience in design consulting. She has worked across a range of industries including hydrogen and natural gas, with the past four years focused on hydrogen integration projects in the North Sea – particularly large-scale green hydrogen systems. Alicia has led the process concept designs for gigawatt-scale hydrogen production facilities and explored a range of hydrogen production methods, both onshore and offshore. Her work supports the development of flexible, decarbonised energy systems that can unlock the full potential of offshore wind and accelerate the transition to net zero.