Consultation On Offshore Wind Reform: Hydrogen Sector Calls For Hybrid Connection Concepts And Warns Of Compensation Risks
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the AquaVentus web site.
There is this statement on the home page.
Berlin, January 02 2026. In the context of the consultation launched by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) on the reform of the Wind Energy at Sea Act (WindSeeG), the hydrogen initiative AquaVentus is calling for clear legislative action to enable a cost-efficient and system-friendly development of offshore wind energy. At the heart of its position is the timely legal establishment of hybrid connection concepts, allowing offshore wind farms to be connected via both electricity cables and hydrogen pipelines.
Note.
- I’ve always felt that copying proven technologies from the offshore oil and gas industry is good practice.
- It may be easier to recycle infrastructure like pipelines, platforms and storage by creating the hydrogen offshore.
- In the UK, Centrica and SSE are already re-purposing natural gas storage for hydrogen.
It may feel safer to some for the hydrogen to be produced a distance offshore.
Could Doncaster Sheffield Airport Become A Hydrogen Airport?
I asked Google AI, what is the current status of Doncaster Sheffield Airport and received this reply.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) is currently in a state of active, public-funded redevelopment after closing in late 2022 due to financial issues, with plans to reopen for passenger flights by late 2027 or 2028, following significant funding (around £160m) secured by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) for the City of Doncaster Council to take over operations and rebuild commercial viability, with freight and general aviation potentially returning sooner.
This Google Map shows the location of the airport.
Note.
- The distinctive mouth of the River Humber can be picked out towards the North-East corner of the map.
- Hull and Grimsby sit in the mouth of the Humber.
- The red arrow indicates Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
- Leeds is in the North-West corner of the map.
- The towns and city of Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield can be picked out to the West of the airport.
This second Google Map shows a close-up of the airport.
On my visit to NASA in the 1980s, where an Artemis system was used to project manage the turnround of the Space Shuttle, I was asked questions by one of NASA’s support people about RAF Finningley. Nothing too technical, but things like what is Doncaster like.
When I asked why, they said there’s a high chance that a Space Shuttle could land at RAF Finningley, as it has one of the best runways for a very heavy aircraft in Europe.
Looking at the runway, it is a long and wide runway that was built for heavy RAF nuclear bombers like Valiants, Victors and Vulcans.
I believe that we will eventually see hydrogen- and/or nuclear-powered airliners flying very long routes across the globe, just as a nuclear-powered example, attempted to do in the first episode of the TV series Thunderbirds, which was called Trapped in the Sky and has this Wikipedia entry.
Just as the Space Shuttle did, these airliners and their air-cargo siblings will need a large runway.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport already has such a runway.
These hydrogen- and nuclear-powered aircraft will make Airbus A 380s look small and will need runways like the one at Finningley.
But I don’t think we’ll ever see nuclear-powered aircraft in the near future, so the aircraft will likely be hydrogen.
Other things in favour of making Doncaster Sheffield Airport, an airport for long range hydrogen aircraft include.
- The airport is close to the massive hydrogen production and storage facilities being developed on Humberside at Aldbrough and Rough.
- The airport could be connected to the Sheffield Supertram.
- The airport could be connected to the trains at Doncaster station, which has 173 express trains per day to all over the country.
- The airport would fit well with my thoughts on hydrogen-powered coaches, that I wrote about inFirstGroup Adds Leeds-based J&B Travel To Growing Coach Portfolio
- The airport might even be able to accept the next generation of supersonic aircraft.
- The airport could certainly accept the largest hydrogen-powered cargo aircraft.
- The Airport isn’t far from Doncaster iPort railfreight terminal.
Did I read too much science fiction?
I have some further thoughts.
Do Electric Aircraft Have A Future?
I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.
Yes, electric aircraft absolutely have a future, especially for short-haul, regional, and urban air mobility (UAM), promising quieter, zero-emission flights, but battery limitations mean long-haul flights will rely more on hydrogen-electric or Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) for the foreseeable future. Expect to see battery-electric planes for shorter trips by the late 2020s, while hybrid or hydrogen solutions tackle longer distances, with a significant shift towards alternative propulsion by 2050.
That doesn’t seem very promising, so I asked Google AI what range can be elected from electric aircraft by 2035 and received this answer.
By 2035, fully electric aircraft ranges are expected to be around 200-400 km (125-250 miles) for small commuter planes, while hybrid-electric models could reach 800-1,000 km (500-620 miles), focusing on short-haul routes due to battery limitations; larger, long-range electric flight remains decades away, with hydrogen propulsion targeting 1,000-2,000 km ranges for that timeframe.
Note.
- I doubt that many prospective passengers would want to use small commuter planes for up to 250 miles from Doncaster Sheffield airport with hundreds of express trains per day going all over the UK mainland from Doncaster station.
- But Belfast City (212 miles), Dublin (215 miles) and Ostend (227 miles), Ronaldsway on the Isle of Man (154 miles) and Rotterdam(251 miles) and Schipol 340 miles) may be another matter, as there is water to cross.
It looks like it will be after 2035 before zero-carbon aircraft will be travelling further than 620 miles.
My bets would be on these aircraft being hydrogen hybrid aircraft.
What Will The Range Of Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft In 2040?
I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.
By 2040, hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft are projected to have a range that covers short- to medium-haul flights, likely up to 7,000 kilometers (approximately 3,780 nautical miles), with some models potentially achieving longer ranges as technology and infrastructure mature.
The range of these aircraft will vary depending on the specific technology used (hydrogen fuel cells versus hydrogen combustion in modified gas turbines) and aircraft size.
It looks like we’ll be getting there.
This Wikipedia entry is a list of large aircraft and there are some very large aircraft, like the Antonov An-225, which was destroyed in the Ukraine War.
A future long-range hydrogen-powered airline must be able to match the range of current aircraft that will need to be replaced.
I asked Google AI what airliner has the longest range and received this reply.
The longest-range airliner in service is the Airbus A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range), specifically configured for airlines like Singapore Airlines to fly extremely long distances, reaching around 9,700 nautical miles (18,000 km) for routes like Singapore to New York. While the A350-900ULR holds records for current operations, the upcoming Boeing 777-8X aims to compete, and the Boeing 777-200LR was previously known for its exceptional range.
I believe that based on the technology of current successful aircraft, that an aircraft could be built, that would be able to have the required range and payload to be economic, with the first version probably being a high-capacity cargo version.
What Would An Ultra Long Range Hydrogen-Powered Airliner Look Like?
Whatever the aircraft looks like it will need to be powered. Rolls-Royce, appear to be destining a future turbofan for aircraft called the Ultrafan, which has this Wikipedia entry.
I asked Google AI, if Rolls-Royce will produce an Ultrafan for hydrogen and received this answer.
Rolls-Royce is actively developing the UltraFan architecture to be compatible with hydrogen fuel in the future, but the current UltraFan demonstrator runs on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The company has a research program dedicated to developing hydrogen-powered engines for future aircraft, aiming for entry into service in the mid-2030s.
I asked Google AI, if Rolls-Royce have had major difficulties converting engines to hydrogen and received this answer.
Rolls-Royce has not encountered insurmountable difficulties but faces significant engineering and logistical challenges in converting engines to run on hydrogen. The company has made substantial progress in testing both stationary and aero engines using pure hydrogen, confirming its technical feasibility.
Given the company’s success in developing engines in the past, like the R Type, Merlin, RB 211, Pegasus, Trent, mtu 4000 and others, I suspect there’s a high chance of a successful hydrogen-powered Ultrafan.
If you look at a history of large passenger and cargo aircraft over the last sixty years, there has been a lot of the following.
- Conversion of one type of aircraft to a totally different type.
- Fitting new engines to a particular type.
- Fitting new avionics to a particular type.
Examples include.
- Fitting new CFM-56 engines to DC-8s.
- The first two Nimrods were converted from unsold Comet 4Cs.
- Converting Victor bombers to RAF tanker aircraft.
- Converting BA Tristars to RAF tanker aircraft.
- Converting DC-8s to cargo aircraft.
- Airbus converted five Airbus A 300-600 into Belugas, which have this Wikipedia entry.
- Airbus converted six Airbus A 330-200F into BelugaXLs, which have this Wikipedia entry.
- Converting two Boeing-747s to carry Space Shuttles ; one from American Airlines and one from Japan Airlines, which have this Wikipedia entry.
Note.
- Most of these examples have been successful.
- The last three examples have been very successful.
- Most of these applications do not have a human cargo.
This picture shows an Emirates Air Lines’s Airbus A 380 on finals at Heathrow.
Note.
- The aircraft was landing on Runway 27 L.
- The four engines and the vertical oval cross-section of the fuselage are clearly visible.
- The Wikipedia entry for the Airbus A 380 shows two floors across the fuselage; the upper floor with eight seats in 2-4-2 and the lower floor with ten seats in 3-4-3, and a pair of LD3 cargo containers in the basement.
I’d be interested to know, how much hydrogen could be put in the basement and how far it could take the plane with a full load of passengers!
This link to the Wikipedia entry, shows the cross section in detail.
Note
I wouldn’t be surprised that the first application of large hydrogen aircraft will be for cargo and it could be an Airbus Beluga or perhaps an Airbus A 380 freighter?
FirstGroup Adds Leeds-based J&B Travel To Growing Coach Portfolio
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Route One.
These two paragraphs add more detail.
J&B Travel of Leeds is the latest coach business to be acquired by FirstGroup.
The operator, which has been established for more than 40 years, has a fleet of 15 vehicles, with work including home-to-school, private hire and FlixBus contracts.
But in some ways, the most significant thing not mentioned is that FirstGroup have now acquired seven coach firms.
- AndersonTravel in London
- EnsignBus in London
- J & B Travel in Leeds
- Matthews Coaches in County Monaghan, Ireland
- Tetley’s Coaches in Leeds
- York Pullman in Harrogate, Hull, Leeds and York
Note.
- MatthewsCoaches are about halfway between Dublin and Belfast.
- Three of the English acquisitions are in Yorkshire and two are in London.
- Leeds isn’t far off being halfway between London and Central Scotland.
This looks like the first part of a master plan.
- Leeds and County Monaghan could be ideal refuelling points for zero-carbon coaches.
- Ferrybridge, just South of Leeds is getting a hydrogen-fired power station.
- Ferrybridge is a big site with a motorway service station on the M1.
- Wrightbus are building an electrolyser at Ballymena, which is 81 miles from Matthews Coaches.
- Wrightbus have said that Dublin and Cork would be an ideal route for a hydrogen coach.
- Wrightbus have said that Heathrow and Gatwick would be an ideal route for a hydrogen coach.
This plan could be built-on with routes to various cities and attractions.
I have some further sorts and questions.
Could The First Obvious Routes Be Run By Hydrogen Coaches?
From what Wrightbus have indicated, I would rate the obvious routes as.
- Dublin and Belfast – 103 miles or 206 miles round trip
- Dublin and Cork – 107 miles or 340 miles round trip
- Leeds and Glasgow – 224 miles or 448 miles round trip
- Leeds and Edinburgh – 222 miles or 444 miles round trip
- Leeds and London – 197 miles or 396 miles round trip
- Heathrow and Gatwick – 40 miles or 80 miles round trip
Note.
The longest route is 714.5 km.
It would appear that, if the hydrogen-powered coach had a range of 1,000 km. all routes would be possible.
How Far Would A Hydrogen Coach Get On A Tankful From London?
A thousand kilometres is 621.4 miles.
These are the distances from Scottish cities to London.
- Aberdeen – 537 miles
- Dundee – 472 miles
- Dunfermline – 430 miles
- Edinburgh – 410 miles
- Glasgow – 404 miles
- Inverness – 561 miles
- John O ‘Groats – 678 miles
- Perth – 451 miles
- Stirling – 418 miles
I’ve added John O’Groats for completeness, but all cities would be reached.
How Far Would A Hydrogen Coach Get On A Tankful Going West From London?
These are the distances from Western towns and cities to London.
- Aberystwyth – 236 miles
- Fishguard – 255 miles
- Holyhead – 289 miles
- Lands End – 310 miles
- Penzance – 307 miles
I’ve added Lands End for completeness, but all towns and cities would be reached.
John O’Groats And Lands End In A Hydrogen Coach
I asked Google AI how far the journey was and received this answer.
The distance from Land’s End to John o’ Groats varies by transport: about 837-874 miles (1347-1407 km) by road, roughly 600 miles (970 km) as the crow flies, and around 1,200 miles (1900 km) for an off-road walking route, with cyclists typically taking 10-14 days and walkers 2-3 months.
So it looks, like there will be a need for a refuel, but that would give 2,000 kilometres, which is more than the 1,347-1,407 kilometres needed.
Ferrybridge Could Be An Ideal Refuelling Point
I suspect, even in fifty years you could name the places in the UK, where you will be certain of refuelling any hydrogen vehicle on the fingers of one hand.
The list would include.
- Ferrybridge in Yorkshire, where SSE are building a hydrogen-fired power station.
- Felixstowe Docks in Suffolk, where there will be a need to fuel hydrogen trucks.
- Keadby in Lincolnshire, where SSE are building a hydrogen-fired power station.
- Kintore in Aberdeenshire, where an electrolyser is being built.
- Runcorn in Cheshire, where there was an electrolyser in 1968, when I worked there.
This web site lists all the UK hydrogen projects.
This Google Map shows the location of the Ferrybridge hydrogen-powered power station site in relation to Barnsley, Doncaster, Leeds and other towns and cities of Yorkshire.
Note.
- The red arrow indicates the former coal-fired power station site.
- Leeds is in the North-West corner of the map.
- Barnsley and Stocksbridge are in the South-West corner of the map.
- The city of Sheffield is to the South-West of Stocksbridge.
- Doncaster is in the South-East corner of the map.
Last September I wrote Visiting The Consultation For Ferrybridge Next Generation Power Station At Knottingley.
In that post, I wrote about supplying both the power station and the motorway services with hydrogen and felt that it could use one of two methods.
- A pipeline from the hydrogen storage in East Yorkshire.
- Some form of train from a hydrogen production site.
Recently, Network Rail have been conducting tests on the movement of hydrogen by train, which I wrote about in Network Rail’s Test Track Take Centre Stage As Hydrogen Is Delivered By Rail For The First Time.
The Ferrybridge Site Has most things needed.
This map shows the site.
Note.
- The impressive motorway junction, where the North-South M1 crosses the East-West M62.
- Liverpool and Manchester are to the West.
- Leeds, Newcastle and Scotland is to the North.
- Hull is to the East.
- London is to the South.
- There is a Moto Services.
- There is a Premier Inn.
There is even two railway stations on the map.
This reply from Google AI gives the details of the distance between Ferrybridge and the South-West.
The driving distance from Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, to Land’s End is roughly 470 to 500 miles, taking about 8-9 hours, primarily via motorways like the M1, M5, and A30, though exact times and routes vary by real-time traffic and specific starting/ending points.
I am absolutely certain, that if you have a vehicle like a hydrogen coach and you want to go anywhere between A to B on the UK mainland, then if there is hydrogen-refuelling at Ferrybridge, you will be able too do the journey with a refuel at Ferrybridge.
Is Formula One Likely To Go To Hydrogen Fuel?
Formula One has a long term aim of decarbonising or at least going net-zero.
I’ve never been to an electric-car race, but it must be more boring to many to have motor-racing without the smells and the noise.
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Formula One is unlikely to switch to hydrogen fuel in the immediate future, as its current strategy is focused on using 100% sustainable “e-fuels” from the 2026 season. However, F1 leadership has stated that hydrogen is a potential long-term solution for the 2030s and beyond.
This article on the BBC is entitled Formula 1 boss Ross Brawn Says Hydrogen Could Be Future Fuel.
But I do believe, that the trucks, vans and transporters that accompany Formula One will be decarbonised earlier and hydrogen could play a major part, due to its proven longer range.
Hydrogen coaches are being developed and could be launches next year and are likely to have a 1,000 km. range, so expect to see some of these vehicles in the fleet of vehicles following Formula One.
Hydrogen In Aviation Offers Potential For Growth And Deeper Emissions Reductions, New Study Shows
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Rolls-Royce.
These five paragraphs compose the press release.
Rolls-Royce, easyJet, Heathrow and University College London Air Transportation Systems Lab (UCL ATSLab) published a report highlighting how hydrogen-powered aircraft could enable European and UK aviation to cut carbon emissions while supporting future growth.
The study, Enabling Hydrogen in the European Aviation Market, found that hydrogen in aviation offers a unique opportunity to achieve both emissions reduction and market expansion. The analysis shows that introducing hydrogen alongside Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) can accelerate progress towards net zero, particularly when policy incentives reward low-carbon fuels and if hydrogen were to be included within the EU’s SAF mandate.
The research also found that targeted hydrogen infrastructure at around 20 major European airports, including Heathrow, could deliver more than 80% of the emissions benefits of full hydrogen availability across the continent. Concentrating investment at key ‘hydrogen hubs’ would therefore provide a practical and cost-effective path to early adoption.
Further modelling indicates that the earlier novel technologies, such as hydrogen, can be introduced, the more opportunity they present for CO2 emission reductions, underscoring the value of early technological transition where it is financially and technically viable.
The study is underpinned by UCL ATSLab’s Airline Behaviour Model (ABM), which represents the complexity of airline decision-making through specific behavioural variables. Building on this, the research evaluates how fuel costs, incentives and new technologies shape airline responses. This provides a research-based, realistic picture of how hydrogen adoption could evolve, highlighting both opportunities and potential challenges for adoption.
Note, these two sentences recommending early adoption of hydrogen.
- Concentrating investment at key ‘hydrogen hubs’ would therefore provide a practical and cost-effective path to early adoption.
- Further modelling indicates that the earlier novel technologies, such as hydrogen, can be introduced, the more opportunity they present for CO2 emission reductions.
I also suspect, that introducing hydrogen early, feeds back to reduce Co2 emissions.
But what is Trump’s considered view on hydrogen aircraft?
Google AI gives this answer to my question.
Donald Trump’s view on hydrogen for transportation, including potential use in aircraft, is highly skeptical due to perceived safety risks and effectiveness concerns, which generally aligns with his broader opposition to green energy initiatives. He has specifically criticized hydrogen-powered vehicles as being dangerous and “prone to blowing up”.
Note.
- I used to work in a hydrogen factory and it’s still producing hydrogen.
- I doubt Trump gets on well with Jennifer Rumsey, who is CEO of Cummins, who are one of the world’s largest diesel-engine companies, who are following a zero-carbon route.
- Is Formula One Likely To Go To Hydrogen Fuel? This would set the Cat Among The Pigeons
I also feel that this University College London study will create a string of converts to hydrogen.
Is Carbon Black Used To Make Offshore Electrical Cable?
I asked Google AI, the answer to this question and received this answer.
Yes, carbon black is extensively used to make offshore electrical cables. It serves two primary functions: providing electrical conductivity to specific components and offering UV protection to outer jacketing materials.
That seems a positive answer.
It also could be a very complementary one.
HiiROC have a process that splits any hydrocarbon gas including natural gas, chemical plant off gas and biomethane, into turquoise hydrogen and carbon black.
Two methods of bringing energy to the shore from an offshore wind farm are electricity and hydrogen, through a cable or pipe respectively.
This looks to me, that there could be a possibility to use one of Baldrick’s cunning hybrid plans to bring energy onshore using both hydrogen and electricity.
Effectively, the transmission and use of the system, would use both the hydrogen and carbon black produced by HiiROC.
Network Rail’s Test Track Take Centre Stage As Hydrogen Is Delivered By Rail For The First Time
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from GeoPura.
These three paragraphs introduce the story.
Network Rail, working with rail and energy partners Freightliner and GeoPura, has transported hydrogen for the first time on Britain’s rail network, marking a major step forward for both the rail and energy sectors.
The milestone was achieved yesterday (Wednesday 3 December) at Network Rail’s Test Tracks* site in Tuxford, where freight operator Freightliner hauled a train of gas containers from Doncaster to High Marnham – marking Britain’s first shipment of hydrogen by rail.
It was part of a rail and energy industry innovation event showcasing several hydrogen initiatives. This included the first re-engineered hydrogen-powered shunting locomotive – seen as a step towards replacing diesel – another milestone towards the rail industry’s goal of becoming net zero. The event also demonstrated HPU hydrogen-powered generators, lighting towers and support vehicles.
These two paragraphs describe Network Rail’s test track at Tuxford and GeoPura’s hydrogen production facility at High Marnham.
Network Rail’s site at Tuxford runs all the way to High Marnham, where it sits adjacent to HyMarnham Power, the UK’s largest green hydrogen production facility operated by GeoPura and JG Pears. Built on the site of a former coal-fired power station, HyMarnham Power is one of the world’s first rail-connected hydrogen production facilities, and Network Rail’s Tuxford site will be the world’s first net-zero railway testing facility.
Currently, hydrogen is transported by road. This breakthrough marks a major step towards the rail network becoming a ready-made hydrogen distribution system, a rolling pipeline, with connections to all major industrial and urban centres across Britain – proving the practical capability of rail to transport hydrogen at scale. Hydrogen will also be utilised to decarbonise wider rail operations, from construction to ongoing maintenance and off-grid operations.
This OpenRailwayMap shows Tuxford and High Marnham.
Note.
- The blue arrow is Tuxford West junction.
- The North-South red track is the East Coast Main Line. East-West track indicated by the blue arrow is Network Rail’s Test Track
- The grey area, to the South of the Test Track in the East is the former site of High Marnham power station, where GeoPura have their hydrogen facility.
- If you continue East on the Test Track it connects to the Sheffield and Lincoln Line at Pye Wipe junction.
Sheffield could be the sort of city, that would need a lot of hydrogen to decarbonise.
Has Hydrogen Been Transported From ICI’s Former Site At Runcorn By Rail
I ask this question, as I used to work at Runcorn in the 1960s, and I don’t remember seeing any hydrogen railway wagons.
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this section and received this answer.
Hydrogen is typically transported from the INEOS (formerly ICI) site in Runcorn via pipeline or by road in cryogenic liquid tanker trucks or gaseous tube trailers, but it has not been historically transported by rail from that specific site.
The first ever trial shipment of hydrogen by rail on Britain’s network took place only very recently, in December 2025, as part of an industry innovation event. This trial involved transporting hydrogen containers from Doncaster to High Marnham, adjacent to the HyMarnham Power green hydrogen production facility.
It looks like my memory and Google AI agree.
£1.5 billion Enables UK-US Pair To Get Their Hands On Europe’s Giant LNG Terminal
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Offshore Energy.
This is the sub-heading.
UK-based energy player Centrica and U.S. investment firm Energy Capital Partners (ECP), part of Bridgeport Group, have brought into their fold a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Kent County, United Kingdom.
This paragraph gives Centrica’s view of the Grain LNG Terminal.
The UK firm portrays the terminal as Europe’s largest LNG regasification facility, with a capacity of 15 million tonnes of LNG a year. Located on the UK’s Isle of Grain, the terminal features unloading infrastructure, regasification equipment, and truck-loading facilities.
In a press release, which is entitled Investment in Grain LNG, that was published in August 2025, Centrica said this.
Opportunities for efficiencies to create additional near-term value, and future development options including a combined heat and power plant, bunkering, hydrogen and ammonia.
The tone of the article in Offshore Energy and the press release is unmistakable. – Centrica intend to make good use of their investment.
I suggest you read both documents fully.
- Europe’s largest LNG regasification facility, with a capacity of 15 million tonnes of LNG a year, will certainly need a large combined heat and power plant.
- Will any spare power from the CHP plant, be sent to Germany, through the 1.4 GW NeuConnect interconnector, which should be commissioned by 2028?
- Hydrogen, ammonia and LNG are the three low-carbon fuels used by modern ships, so I suspect hydrogen and ammonia will be produced on the island.
- Centrica are investors in the efficient hydrogen-generation process ; HiiROC.
- Hydrogen and nitrogen are the two feedstocks for ammonia.
Centrica certainly have big plans for the Grain LNG Terminal.
I shall be following Centrica closely.
EDF Developing Offshore Wind-Powered Hydrogen Production Project In French EEZ
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
EDF Power Solutions has invited applications for a tender for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) services and hazard studies as part of a project to develop an offshore hydrogen production station in France’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
This is the first paragraph.
The project, dubbed HYODE (HYdrogen Offshore DunkerquE), will produce green hydrogen by coupling offshore wind farms with an offshore electrolyser near Dunkirk, France, and is planned to also include storage and transport by ship to port, forming what EDF describes as an “innovative solution” to help scale green hydrogen production.
I asked Google AI, if there are any operational offshore hydrogen electrolysers and received this answer.
Yes, there are operational offshore electrolyser projects, though large-scale, dedicated offshore hydrogen platforms are still in development. The first operational offshore production on an existing gas platform is planned for late 2024 with the PosHYdon project. Additionally, a pilot project in the UK is testing the full integration of a hydrogen electrolyser onto an existing offshore wind turbine, with another project in the Netherlands installing an offshore hydrogen production and storage platform.
But, I did get this page on page on the Ramboll web site, which is entitled The Rise Of Offshore Hydrogen Production At Scale, which has this introductory paragraph.
The stage is set for producing green hydrogen from offshore wind and desalinated seawater. Building on existing and proven technology, offshore wind farms have the potential to become future production hubs for green hydrogen production at scale to meet increasing demand.
That sounds very promising, especially, if proven technology is borrowed from the offshore oil and gas industry.
It’s
Centrica Energy And Exodus Sign Landmark LNG Agreement
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Centrica.
This is the sub-heading.
Centrica Energy has announced the signing of a long-term Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Exodus for Honduras, marking a new milestone in the country’s energy development.
These two paragraphs add more details.
Under the terms of the agreement, Centrica will deliver approximately six LNG cargoes per year to Exodus through a ship-to-ship operation into the Floating Storage Unit (FSU) Bilbao Knutsen, located in Puerto Cortes. The 15-year contract is expected to commence in 2026.
“This agreement reflects Centrica Energy’s commitment to expanding global LNG access through strategic partnerships,” said Arturo Gallego, Global Head of LNG at Centrica Energy. “By leveraging our global reach and operational expertise, we’re proud to support Exodus and Honduras in its journey toward a more sustainable and resilient energy future.”
It looks a good deal for Centrica, that has been snatched from under the American’s noses.
I also asked Google AI, if Honduras produced any natural gas and received this reply.
No, Honduras does not produce natural gas, but it is importing it through a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) agreement that begins in 2026. The country relies on imports to meet its energy needs, and this new deal aims to diversify its energy mix and provide cleaner energy for power generation.
That’s clear and it’s interesting that Honduras are looking to provide cleaner energy.
These two paragraphs from Centrica’s press release add details on power generation in Honduras.
The LNG will be transported to the Brassavola Combined Cycle Power Plant, an operating 150 MW thermal facility with its combined cycle under construction and set to reach 240 MW of power capacity, marking the first-ever import of natural gas for power generation in Honduras. This initiative represents a significant step toward diversifying the nation’s energy mix and reducing its reliance on less environmentally friendly fossil fuels.
Once operational, the FSU will serve as the backbone of LNG storage at a new terminal currently under construction on Honduras’ Caribbean coast. The project is designed to enhance energy security, improve generation efficiency, and support industrial growth.
This article on Riviera is entitled Honduras Turns To LNG To Meet Energy Needs and provides these points.
- Honduras is grappling with a 250 MW power shortage.
- Genesis Energías is spearheading efforts to introduce a reliable and cost-effective energy source by importing liquefied natural gas (LNG).
- Hyundai, who are one of Centrica’s partners in HiiROC, are converting the Bilbao Knutsen for its new role as a Floating Storage Unit (FSU).
It would certainly help Honduras’s economy, if they had more power generation.
I asked Google AI, if Honduras was developing offshore wind power and received this reply.
While Honduras has been actively developing onshore wind power for over a decade, there is currently no information to suggest it is developing offshore wind power projects. The country’s wind energy development has focused exclusively on land-based projects, with a number of operational farms and more in the pipeline.
I also asked Google AI if Honduras was developing solar power and received this reply.
Yes, Honduras is actively and significantly developing its solar power capacity as a cornerstone of its national energy strategy. The country has been a regional leader in solar energy penetration and continues to invest heavily in new projects to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
But, whether its offshore wind, onshore wind or solar power, these renewals will need backup and the 240 MW Brassavola Combined Cycle Power Plant, will be a good start.
I have some further thoughts.
Does HiiROC Have A Part To Play?
If would be good, if the 240 MW Brassavola Combined Cycle Power Plant could be zero-carbon, so that Honduras could be more zero-carbon.
Consider.
- Centrica own part of HiiROC, who can generate turquoise hydrogen efficiently from natural gas.
- Honduras will from 2026, have plenty of natural gas.
- In Hydrogen Milestone: UK’s First Hydrogen-to-Power Trial At Brigg Energy Park, I talked about how Centrica powered Brigg power station with a hydrogen blend.
- If the Brassavola Combined Cycle Power Plant was reasonably-modern like Brigg, I suspect it could be run on hydrogen or a hydrogen-blend.
- A reliable supply of hydrogen in Honduras would have its uses.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a HiiROC plant in Honduras to help decarbonise the country.
HiiROC Creates A Lot Of Carbon Black
When a HiiROC system produces turquoise hydrogen, it produces carbon black as a by-product.
I asked Google AI, if Honduras has a use for carbon black, and received this reply.
Honduras likely has a use for carbon black because the material is a vital component in the production of many common industrial and consumer goods that are used globally. The primary applications are universal across most countries, including those in Central America.
But carbon black can also be used to improve poor agricultural land.
So I asked, Google AI, if Honduras has a lot of land to improve and received this reply.
Yes, Honduras has significant land to improve, but this is complicated by issues like deforestation, land degradation, and a lack of clear land rights for many communities. There is a need to balance economic activities like coffee plantations with conservation, improve sustainable agriculture practices, and address illegal land occupation.
It seems to me, that a sensible hollistic approach could use some of the carbon black.
I also believe, that there are many universities, who could advise Honduras on land restoration.
Does Highview Power Have A Part To Play?
Consider.
- Centrica are one of the backers of Highview Power, who are building their first two environmentally-friendly liquid air batteries in the UK.
- Their flagship battery is a 300 MW/3.2 GWh monster that can incorporate a stability island, that controls the grid.
- Highview Power’s batteries are zero-carbon, with a 40-50 year life.
As a Control Engineer, I believe that one of these batteries would be superb backup for the Brassavola Combined Cycle Power Plant and all those renewables.
Where Will Centrica Get Their LNG For Honduras?
I have already reported on two deals, where Centrica is purchasing LNG.
- Centrica Enters Into Long Term Natural Gas Sale & Purchase Agreement
- Centrica And PTT Sign Heads Of Agreement For Long-Term LNG Supply
I can expect more deals like this around the world.
Also, as the Grain LNG Terminal has the ability to export LNG could we be seeing UK natural gas being exported by Centrica to Honduras and the other countries hinted at in the PTT purchase?
Are Centrica Proposing A Comprehensive Solution To A Nation’s Power Problem?
It certainly looks like they are.
And Honduras would be getting a zero-carbon energy system.
This could be repeated all around the world.
Conclusion
This certainly looks like a good deal for Centrica, that can be repeated in other places.
The Anonymous Widower 
