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Wind can blow hydrogen sector sky high

Renewable UK says wind could make clean hydrogen and provide enormous capacity with more storage

The UK must make better use of its offshore wind resources by integrating battery storage and green hydrogen production, according to a RenewableUK report.

With wind generation booming, the challenge is ensuring clean power isn’t wasted when supply exceeds grid capacity.

Battery storage can provide short and long-term flexibility, while green hydrogen, produced using surplus wind energy, can be stored and used when needed—boosting energy security and cutting reliance on fossil fuels.

But right now, offshore wind farms aren’t set up to fully capitalise on these solutions, states the report.

Just 3MW of battery storage is currently co-located with UK offshore wind, with 600MW approved but yet to be built. Several developers are looking at green hydrogen, but policy barriers are slowing progress.

The report Offshore Wind Co-Location: Integrating Offshore Wind with Flexibility lays out ten key policy recommendations to make it easier for developers to build energy storage and hydrogen projects alongside wind farms.

These include;

Scrapping restrictive rules that prevent offshore transmission owners from adding battery and hydrogen projects.

Reforming Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions to support co-location, including changes to metering and alignment with the Hydrogen Production Business Model.

Speeding up planning by allowing developers to seek consent for offshore wind and energy storage in one go.

Building a pipeline network to move green hydrogen from offshore production sites to where it’s needed.

With the UK’s offshore wind sector expanding fast, RenewableUK argues that action is needed now to ensure surplus power is put to good use.

Integrating green hydrogen production would transform how clean energy is stored and used, cutting waste and accelerating the UK’s shift to a zero-carbon economy.

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