Belgium Will Have the First North Sea Energy Island

Solar Hydrogen Panels

Solar panels that produce hydrogen.
Origin: Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.
20 of those and a family home can be decoupled from the grid.
Water source electrolysis: from the air.
Hydrogen production rate: 250 liter/day
Envisioned production date: 2030 (disappointing late)

[opwegmetwaterstof.nl] – Waterstofpanelen klaar voor productie
[comate.be] – Engineering company behind production prototypes
[vrt.be] – More public broadcaster videos.

First Unmanned Wind Turbine Inspection Vessel

YouTube text:

During the Offshore Innovation Day, Brazilian start-up Tidewise launched an unmanned inspection vessel that can travel 40 kilometers offshore. It was the first time this had been done to inspect the cables to the Modular Offshore Grid (MOG), Elia’s offshore power outlet in the Belgian North Sea. Tidewise was the winner of Elia Group’s Open Innovation Challenge in 2021.

[offshorewind.biz] – Unmanned Inspection Completes Offshore Belgium – Video

Construction 3.6 GW OWF Doggerbank has Begun

Installation of the 277 wind turbine foundations has started on the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm which is being developed 130 km off the Yorkshire coast, the UK.

Installer: DEME
Turbines: Siemens & GE Haliade 14 MW machines
Completion date: 2026

[offshorewind.biz] – First Foundation Stands at World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm
[wikipedia.org] – Dogger Bank Wind Farm
[wikipedia.org] – DEME

North Sea to Become World’s Largest Green Power Plant

Signing ceremony in Esbjerg today

Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium signed several agreements today in Esbjerg, Denmark, related to a newly decided massive expansion of wind energy plans. This is about 150 GW wind capacity in the North Sea until 2050, subsea interconnectors, energy islands to collect and distribute electricity to the EU and the production of hydrogen.

Nothing is being decided that hadn’t already been identified as potential. It is just that events in Ukraine has hardened the resolve to realize that potential, no ifs or buts. From now on, it’s all systems go. It’s unclear, however, how this joint 150 GW is going to be distributed over the 4 cooperating countries.

Additionally, the ambition is to phase out Russian fossil fuel completely by 2027 from the EU.

[offshorewind.biz] – 150 GW target set by Four EU Countries for 2050
[reuters.com] – Four countries pledge tenfold rise in EU offshore wind power capacity
[nos.nl] – Noordzeelanden gaan capaciteit windparken vertienvoudigen

Previous posts regarding intentions North Sea wind:

[deepresource] – Overview Dutch Offshore Wind Effort until 2030 and Beyond

March 2021: Dutch plans 11 GW by 2030. A consortium estimates that eventually, 60 GW will be installed in the Dutch part of the North Sea.

[deepresource] – Green Light for Extra New Dutch Offshore Wind Parks

March 2022: the Netherlands plans to double its ambition, 21 GW by 2030.

[deepresource] – Denmark Approves 10 GW Energy Island in North Sea (Feb 2021)

DIY Solar Air Heater

Solar air heater DIY-installation, probably dating from ca. 2010. The system can be monitored and controlled per PC or handheld device, via the internet. Solar collectors built from soda cans, controlled by Linux computer. The system fan switches on from the moment 25 C air is available. The system can cool as well, during summer nights. The web link below contains all description necessary to build the system, including software and hardware. Could be built for around 1000,- euro. Location: slightly West of Antwerp, that is 51 degrees North or 2 degrees North of Vancouver (basically the entire US-Canadian border).

Typical flow rate: 700 m3 air/hour
Typical energy yield: 18 kWh in the middle of the winter in 3 hours.
Builder: [linkedin]

P.S. not exactly clear why you would want to use soda cans instead of a simple flat plate construction? The argument seems to be the mediocre heat transfer properties of air, that can be countered by increasing metal-to-air surface area. One wonders if this is worth the effort.

[solarair.livotel.com] – The soda can solar collector

North Sea Hydrogen Storage Concept Revealed

[Tractebel]

Tractebel and partner companies have developed what they describe as the world’s first offshore infrastructure and processing facilities concept for the storage of hydrogen in offshore caverns.

[tractebel-engie.com] – Original story
[offshorewind.biz] – World’s First Offshore Hydrogen Storage Concept Unveiled
[offshorewind.biz] – Tractebel Unveils Hydrogen-Producing Offshore Platform
[tractebel-engie.com] – Company site
[wikipedia.org] – Tractebel

First Hydrogen Plant in Flushing, the Netherlands

[©Sweco]

Engineering consultancy bureau Sweco was responsible for the design and preparation of the environmental permit for the 25 MW green hydrogen production plant in Vlissingen. This was commissioned by VoltH2. When completed, this site will produce 3.6 million kg of green hydrogen per year.

[swecobelgium.be] – Eerste goedgekeurde vergunning in Benelux voor groene waterstofplant
[visionh2.com]

Formation European Offshore Wind Foundation Alliance

Five European offshore wind foundation companies have formed an alliance, named OWFA, in order to streamline coordination with the EU and kindly remind the latter of its ambitious 2050 decarbonization program (and shove in the billions while they are at it).

The objectives in their own words:

• Advocate for EU policy supporting the ramp-up of offshore wind in line with the Green Deal targets and adding European jobs in line with the Industrial Strategy;
• Ensure foundation suppliers take the lead in setting standards and certification processes that concern them;
• Establish a level playing field ensuring the sustainable manufacturing of offshore wind foundations;
• Make sure EU member states maintain sufficient maritime space for offshore wind projects.

Participants:

• Bladt Industries (Denmark)
• EEW Special Pipe Constructions (Germany)
• Sif (Netherlands)
• Smulders Projects (Belgium)
• Steelwind Nordenham (Germany)

[offshorewindfoundations.eu] – OWFA consortium site

Jan de Nul OWF Installation Fleet

[offshorewind.biz] – Jan De Nul Orders Imeca Pile Gripper for Les Alizés