The Offset project, supported by BW Offshore, SwitcH2, Marin, the Technical University of Delft and Strohm, received the grant from the research and development initiative at the Netherlands’ ministry of economic affairs and climate policy.
The project will see a floating hydrogen and ammonia production and storage plant constructed by 2027 and connected to a nearby wind farm. The products will be exported by ship or pipelines.
The so-called NH3 FPSO concept is being developed by SwitchH2 and BW Offshore. It will be built by converting an existing very large crude carrier (VLCC) or a dedicated newbuild vessel.
Receiving power primarily from a wind farm, the unit will produce hydrogen by electrolysis of seawater and nitrogen through the use of an air separation unit, combining these in an ammonia synthesis unit. The NH3 FPSO will be permanently moored but can be relocated as necessary through planned disconnect.
The grant follows approval in principle (AiP) from DNV, which affirmed the technical feasibility of the industrial-scale concept for a floating production unit to produce green ammonia.
Conn Fagan, DNV’s vice president of business development for floating production, said: “The AiP covers all aspects of the integrated vessel concept including structural integrity, mooring, ammonia production, ammonia storage and cargo handling.”
Announcing the certification, DNV said the project is now ready to start the basic design phase.
TU Delft will focus on the direct use of saltwater in the electrolysis process while BW Offshore will focus on design of the topside arrangement, hull and mooring system.
