Synthetic fuel from the offshore wind farm

Is there a way to produce synthetic fuels off-grid, modularly and on the high seas?

The answer to this question is currently being researched!

On July 8, 2025, the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space’s hydrogen lead project H2Mare opened the world’s first floating test platform to demonstrate a complete power-to-X process chain for synthetic fuels. The first tests for the platform initially took place in the port of Bremerhaven – it will then head out to sea off Helgoland.

Good to know:
In addition to the flexible operation of the entire process chain, the aim is also to investigate maritime influences and material properties as well as regulatory conditions in real operation without a connection to the power grid. The knowledge gained will serve as a basis for the development of larger production platforms that can be coupled with wind turbines.

Professor Roland Dittmeyer, Head of the Institute of Micro Process Engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and coordinator of the H2Mare project PtX-Wind, in which the practical test is being carried out, said at the opening in Bremerhaven: “We want to run through the entire planning process, from approval to construction and operation of the plant, in order to be able to create concepts for the construction of larger production platforms.

We keep our fingers crossed!

Photo: H2Mare