Offshore Wind-to-Hydrogen Production: Technical Pathways, Challenges, and Prospects
Source abstract
Abstract
This paper provides a review of three mainstream technical routes for producing hydrogen from offshore wind power: offshore distributed hydrogen production, offshore centralized hydrogen production, and onshore hydrogen production. Based on global engineering cases, we analyze the characteristics, application scenarios, and current development status of each route, paying particular attention to economic performance, system efficiency, and environmental adaptability. The main challenges identified include the limited adaptability of electrolysis technologies, high full-life-cycle costs, and persistent bottlenecks in storage and transportation. Building on these findings, we summarize technological development trends and propose future directions in areas such as electrolyzer innovation, system efficiency optimization, direct seawater utilization, storage and transport infrastructure. This review aims to provide a reference for advancing research, development, and large-scale applications of offshore wind-to-hydrogen technologies.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems · Integrated Energy Systems Optimization · Maritime Transport Emissions and Efficiency
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
New Energy Research Institute, China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute, Beijing 100120, China
School of New Energy, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
References (60)
Show source-provided references
1. Global wind-power generation capacity in the context of climate change10.1016/j.eng.2024.09.018 ↗
2. A comprehensive evaluation of ducted fan hybrid engines integrated with fuel cells for sustainable aviation10.1016/j.rser.2023.113567 ↗
3. Global Wind Energy Council (2025). Global Wind Energy Report 2025, GWEC.
4. Overview of wind power intermittency: Impacts, measurements, and mitigation solutions10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.06.098 ↗
5. Development status of technology for wind-hydrogen coupled energy storage system
6. Sailing towards sustainability: Offshore wind’s green hydrogen potential for decarbonization in coastal USA10.1039/D4EE01460J ↗
7. A comprehensive review on wind power spillage: Reasons, minimization techniques, real applications, challenges, and future trends10.1016/j.epsr.2023.109915 ↗
8. Probabilistic cost prediction for submarine power cable projects10.1016/j.ijepes.2017.01.017 ↗
9. Obanor, E.I., Dirisu, J.O., Kilanko, O.O., Salawu, E.Y., and Ajayi, O.O. (2024). Progress in green hydrogen adoption in the African context. Front. Energy Res., 12.10.3389/fenrg.2024.1429118 ↗
10. Tuluhong, A., Chang, Q., Xie, L., Xu, Z., and Song, T. (2024). Current status of green hydrogen production technology: A review. Sustainability, 16.10.3390/su16209070 ↗
11. National Energy Administration (2025). China Hydrogen Energy Development Report (2025), National Energy Administration.
12. International Renewable Energy Agency (2025). Global Green Hydrogen Development Report 2025, IRENA.
13. (2025, November 26). The “posHYdon” Project of Netherland. Available online: https://poshydon.com/en/home-en/.
14. (2025, November 26). The “NortH2” Project of Netherland. Available online: https://www.north2.eu.
15. (2025, November 26). The “Dolphyn” Project of UK. Available online: https://www.dolphynhydrogen.com/.
16. Integrated design evaluation of propulsion, electric power, and re-liquefaction system for large-scale liquefied hydrogen tanker10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.11.004 ↗
17. Development Status and Suggestions of Offshore Wind Power Hydrogen Production Technology
18. People’s Government of Jiangsu Province (2025, November 26). The 850,000-Kilowatt Dafeng Offshore Wind Power Project of Jiangsu Guoxin Has Fully Started Construction. Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, Available online: https://www.jiangsu.gov.cn/art/2025/3/13/art_60085_11515812.html.
19. Jilin Electric Power Co., Ltd (2025, November 26). Announcement on the Investment and Construction of the Integrated Green Hydrogen Production, Storage, Transportation, Refueling and Utilization Demonstration Project (Phase I) in Yancheng, Shanghai Securities News·China Securities Net. Available online: https://m.10jqka.com.cn/sn/20240828/49029689.shtml.
20. A review on recent trends, challenges, and innovations in alkaline water electrolysis10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.03.238 ↗
21. System modelling and performance assessment of green hydrogen production by integrating proton exchange membrane electrolyser with wind turbine10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.12.263 ↗
22. Sustainable energy prospects: Advancements in green hydrogen production through proton exchange membrane water electrolysis10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.03.187 ↗
23. Development status of water electrolysis hydrogen production technology and its application progress in the new power system
24. Reversible cycling performance of a flat-tube solid oxide cell for seawater electrolysis10.1016/j.enconman.2022.115543 ↗
25. Offshore renewable hydrogen potential in Australia: A techno-economic and legal review10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.06.113 ↗
26. In-situ green hydrogen production from offshore wind farms, a prospective review10.1016/j.renene.2024.122099 ↗
27. Green hydrogen production in offshore environments: A comprehensive review, current challenges, economics and future-prospects10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.03.429 ↗
28. Chen, R., Yang, H., Sun, Y., Zou, J., Sun, B., and Xu, J. (2025). Natural Frequency of Monopile Supported Offshore Wind Turbine Structures Under Long-Term Cyclic Loading. Appl. Sci., 15.10.3390/app15158143 ↗
29. Akpolat, A.N., Dursun, E., and Yang, Y. (2023). Performance Analysis of a PEMFC-Based Grid-Connected Distributed Generation System. Appl. Sci., 13.10.3390/app13063521 ↗
30. Integrated energy storage and transmission solutions: Evaluating hydrogen, ammonia, and compressed air for offshore wind power delivery10.1016/j.est.2025.116254 ↗
31. Ligęza, K., Łaciak, M., and Ligęza, B. (2023). Centralized Offshore Hydrogen Production from Wind Farms in the Baltic Sea Area—A Study Case for Poland. Energies, 16.10.3390/en16176301 ↗
32. The perspective of offshore wind power: Based hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, and hydrogen transportation10.1016/j.mattod.2025.09.016 ↗
33. Hydrogen production from the WindFloat Atlantic offshore wind farm: A techno-economic analysis10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.118481 ↗
34. Techno-economic analysis of utilization offshore platform in the java sea to produce hydrogen with offshore wind turbine-based energy sources10.1088/1742-6596/2828/1/012029 ↗
35. Green hydrogen and chemical production from solar energy in Pakistan: A geospatial, techno-economic, and environmental assessment10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.03.067 ↗
36. Calado, G., and Castro, R. (2021). Hydrogen production from offshore wind parks: Current situation and future perspectives. Appl. Sci., 11.10.3390/app11125561 ↗
37. Hu, X., Yuan, X., Li, B., Ge, Y., and Lin, R. (2022, January 16–18). Techno-Economic Comparison between Power Transmission and Hydrogen Production and Transportation for Offshore-Wind. Proceedings of the 2022 2nd International Conference on Electrical Engineering and Control Science (IC2ECS), Nanjing, China.10.1109/IC2ECS57645.2022.10087958 ↗
38. Techno-economic analysis and Monte Carlo simulation for green hydrogen production using offshore wind power plant10.1016/j.enconman.2022.115695 ↗
39. Cost-effective hydrogen transport: Analyzing the economics of hydrogen storage systems10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.04.327 ↗
40. Offshore green hydrogen production from wind energy: Critical review and perspective10.1016/j.rser.2024.114320 ↗
41. Investigating the impact of wind speed variability on optimal sizing of hybrid wind-hydrogen microgrids for reliable power supply10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.01.444 ↗
42. Machine learning tailored anodes for efficient hydrogen energy generation in proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cells10.1007/s40820-025-01764-7 ↗
43. Water electrolyzer operation scheduling for green hydrogen production: A review10.1016/j.rser.2024.114779 ↗
44. (2025, November 26). What Proportion Does the Electricity Cost Account for in Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis? China Neng Yuan [China Energy Portal], 2021. Available online: http://www.china-nengyuan.com/baike/6687.html.
45. Realistic roles for hydrogen in the future energy transition10.1038/s44359-025-00050-4 ↗
46. Baseload hydrogen supply from an off-grid solar PV–wind power–battery–water electrolyzer plant10.1016/j.energy.2025.135304 ↗
47. Assessment of offshore liquid hydrogen production from wind power for ship refueling10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.10.043 ↗
48. Challenges and opportunities in hydrogen storage and transportation: A comprehensive review10.1016/j.rser.2025.115881 ↗
49. Ultrastable supported oxygen evolution electrocatalyst formed by ripening-induced embedding10.1126/science.adr3149 ↗
50. Life extension of AC-DC converters for hydrogen electrolysers operating as part of offshore wind turbines10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.07.283 ↗
51. Design and performance analysis of hydro and wind-based power and hydrogen generation system for sustainable development
52. Design and evaluation of a hybrid wind/hydrogen/fuel cell energy system for sustainable off-grid power supply10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.12.259 ↗
53. Dynamic Creation of a Local Acid-like Environment for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Natural Seawater10.1021/jacs.4c13036 ↗
54. In-situ direct seawater electrolysis using floating platform in ocean with uncontrollable wave motion10.1038/s41467-024-49639-6 ↗
55. A gel electrolyte-based direct seawater electrolysis10.1039/D5EE00453E ↗
56. Degradation of solid oxide electrolysis stacks in seawater and deionized water electrolysis10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.238627 ↗
57. Advanced Materials and System Innovations for Seawater Electrolysis in Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems: Toward Sustainable Hydrogen Production10.1016/j.chphi.2025.100972 ↗
58. A review of hydrogen storage and transport technologies10.1093/ce/zkad021 ↗
59. Burst pressure performance comparison of type V hydrogen tanks: Evaluating various shapes and materials10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.07.315 ↗
60. Hydrogen storage in depleted offshore gas fields in Brazil: Potential and implications for energy security10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.08.209 ↗