The North Sea Wind Power Hub has welcomed Dutch gas grid operator Gasunie as its latest member.
Gasunie will join TenneT Netherlands, TenneT Germany and Energinet to study the potential for the development of a large-scale, sustainable energy supply system in the North Sea.
The collaboration is a key part of the realization of a North Sea Wind Power Hub that will contribute to Europe’s climate goals and its offshore wind energy ambitions. Gasunie will contribute its expertise in the transport and storage of gas via interconnected international grids to the partnership, it said.
The company is also developing knowledge about the use of renewable gases, such as hydrogen, and various conversion processes, such as power-to-gas.
The proposed North Sea Wind Power Hub will be able to support offshore wind farms with a total capacity of 100 GW. It will involve the construction of a series of ‘power link islands’ in the North Sea that will connect offshore wind farms with countries around the North Sea via direct current connections.
The connections will also serve as international interconnectors, enabling countries to trade power across their borders.