Siemens Gamesa eyes using pipes to ship green hydrogen from offshore wind turbines

Siemens Gamesa is working with thermoplastic composite pipe manufacturer Strohm, to develop a solution for transferring green hydrogen generated at offshore wind turbines to shore, via a subsea pipe infrastructure.

Strohm claims its corrosion-resistant pipes do not fatigue, nor suffer from the issues associated with using steel pipe for hydrogen, such as the pipe becoming brittle.

It claims the pipes can also be manufactured in long, spoolable pieces, are flexible enough to be pulled directly into the wind turbine generator and can remain operational for more than 30 years, without the need for maintenance. 

The partners will collaborate on a solution whereby power cables are replaced by a pipe infrastructure using Strohm’s technology that stores and transfers the hydrogen. Siemens Gamesa will serve as technical adviser.

Neither company has confirmed a timeline for the project, including when a fully functional prototype might be completed.

The turbine manufacturer is already working with parent company Siemens to develop a solution in which an electrolyser is fully integrated into an offshore wind turbine.