SEN-1 pioneer projects

At a glance

First large-scale offshore hydrogen production

100 km² area in the North Sea

1,000 MW electrolysis capacity

100,00 tons of green hydrogen per year

En Detail

Offshore hydrogen production in the North Sea plays a key role in the updated National Hydrogen Strategy, which aims for a national electrolysis capacity of 10 GW by 2030.

The SEN-1 pioneer projects, which serve as a proof of concept for the large-scale expansion of offshore hydrogen production, are a central component of this expansion path. They rely on innovative technical solutions and are intended to make an important contribution to achieving the 10 GW target.

In this context, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has already designated the SEN-1 area with an area of 102 km² as a special zone for alternative energy production in the 2023 Area Development Plan (FEP). Even if it is not explicitly stated that the area must be used for electrolysers, it is generally assumed that it will be used for the production of hydrogen and/or its derivatives.

The current area development plan (FEP) from 2025 does not make any new specifications compared to the area development plan (FEP) 2023. However, the ramp-up of the offshore hydrogen infrastructure is taken into account to the extent that the implementation of hydrogen production in the SEN-1 pioneer areas is to take place in close coordination with the AquaDuctus pipeline.

With a total output of around 1,000 MW, these pioneering projects will generate significant quantities of green hydrogen directly at sea. Up to 100,000 tons are to be fed into the AquaDuctus offshore hydrogen pipeline as part of the hydrogen core network and transported ashore in this way(click here for the AquaDuctus project).

As part of this, the BSH will prepare the SEN-1 pioneer projects for the tenders, which will be organized under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK).

The AquaVentus initiative is in close and trusting exchange with all stakeholders involved from politics and industry in order to make the tenders for the SEN-1 pioneer projects a success.