France – Lhyfe has achieved a significant milestone in the hydrogen industry with the successful launch of its offshore hydrogen production pilot, known as Sealhyfe.
The platform, towed 20 kilometers into the Atlantic and connected to the SEM-REV power hub, has commenced the production of offshore hydrogen, marking a pivotal moment for the sector. This article will delve into the goals, technology, potential impact, and challenges surrounding the Sealhyfe project, providing concrete evidence and sources to support the findings.
The primary goal of Lhyfe’s offshore hydrogen production pilot is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of such a project and gather operational experience to facilitate rapid scaling. To accomplish this, Lhyfe deliberately chose to test Sealhyfe in the harshest conditions, deploying it on a re-engineered floating platform, the WAVEGEM platform, provided by GEPS Techno. The platform is connected to Central Nantes’ SEM-REV offshore testing hub, which already hosts the FLOATGEN floating wind turbine operated by BW Ideol. Lhyfe, in collaboration with its partners, developed and assembled the necessary technology, including a 1 MW electrolyser supplied by Plug, in just 16 months. The compact Sealhyfe platform, spanning less than 200 square meters, has the capacity to produce up to 400 kilograms of hydrogen per day.
Prior trials
Before its deployment offshore, Sealhyfe underwent eight months of trials at the Port of Saint-Nazaire. These trials allowed Lhyfe to gather crucial knowledge and optimize the technology for offshore operation. Key tests included benchmarking tests to assess platform behavior and performance, technology and system optimization to adapt to extreme offshore conditions and minimize maintenance interventions, and the development of software and algorithms for remote site management.
On May 19, 2023, Sealhyfe was towed to the SEM-REV offshore testing site and connected to the subsea hub via a dedicated umbilical cable designed specifically for hydrogen applications. Within 48 hours, the system was restarted and operational. Lhyfe plans to replicate the tests conducted during the onshore phase several times to ensure accurate comparisons of results and to perform additional offshore-specific tests.
The successful offshore production of hydrogen in an isolated environment will enable Lhyfe to develop unique operational capabilities, including managing platform movement and environmental stresses, and validating software and algorithms for green and renewable hydrogen production.
HOPE project
In continuation of this achievement, Lhyfe recently announced its participation in the HOPE project, which has been selected by the European Commission under the European Clean Hydrogen Partnership and awarded a €20 million grant. The consortium of nine partners, led by Lhyfe, aims to commercialize offshore hydrogen production on an unprecedented scale. The HOPE project will have a capacity of 10 MW and produce up to four tonnes of green hydrogen per day, which will be transported ashore through pipelines and delivered to customers after compression.
Through the Sealhyfe and HOPE projects, Lhyfe seeks to validate industrial solutions and actively respond to future government project calls. These initiatives contribute to the European Commission’s REPowerEU plan, which targets the production of 10 million tonnes of clean hydrogen in the European Union by 2030. Lhyfe has already established partnerships with wind turbine developers and offshore power specialists, including EDPR, Centrica, and Capital Energy.
