Siemens Gamesa Looks Into Replacing Offshore Power Cables with Pipes

Siemens Gamesa has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Strohm, a manufacturer of fully bonded, Thermoplastic Composite Pipes (TCPs), to jointly develop transfer solutions for the hydrogen produced at offshore wind turbines.

In this concept power cables are replaced by a pipe infrastructure, storing and transferring hydrogen. Siemens Gamesa has a technical advisory role.

According to Strohm, TCP is particularly suited for carrying hydrogen offshore and subsea. Produced at its plant in The Netherlands, the corrosion-resistant technology is said to not fatigue or suffer from issues associated with using steel pipe for hydrogen, such as embrittlement.

Manufactured in long spoolable lengths and flexible in nature, the pipe can be pulled directly into the wind turbine generator, quickly and cost-effectively building an offshore wind farm infrastructure, Strohm said.

TCP is said to not require any maintenance and is suitable for over 30 years in operation, lowering the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) to a minimum and enabling the decentralized concept solution.

Martin van Onna, chief commercial officer at Strohm, said: ”This is a truly exciting collaboration, working with Siemens Gamesa to understand how TCP can be the missing link in an offshore wind farm, generating green hydrogen. The key attributes of TCP – flexibility, no corrosion or maintenance requirements – allow for the most cost-effective infrastructure on a given wind farm. Our proven track record with TCP offshore is a pre-requisite to be considered a solution in future green hydrogen.”

Siemens Gamesa has already taken significant steps in shaping the industry and developing the basis for a decentralized offshore solution, that fully integrates an electrolyzer into an offshore wind turbine, with clear benefits and value-add potential such as capex reduction, increase of system efficiency, and increase of wind farm uptime, Strohm said.

Finn Daugaard Madsen, innovation manager – Power to X at Siemens Gamesa, said: ”At Siemens Gamesa, we believe in the potential of green hydrogen and have been working on the decentralized concept for some years. Strohm has supported us through several case studies, identifying the solutions that can be readily used which complement our own systems. This partnership will assist us to innovate together in an open format, accelerating the availability of green hydrogen.”