Dongfang Electric's World's First Floating Wind Power Coupled Seawater Hydrogen Production Platform Receives CCS Certification, Achieving Key Technological Breakthrough in Deep-Sea New Energy Equipment

Recently, the floating wind power coupled with seawater non-desalination in-situ hydrogen production integrated platform, independently developed by Dongfu Research Institute under Dongfang Electric Corporation, successfully obtained the Principle Approval Certificate (AIP) issued by China Classification Society (CCS), becoming the world's first floating wind power to hydrogen platform to pass this certification. This marks a key technological breakthrough for China in the field of deep-sea new energy equipment.

I. Core Conclusions of Certification and Platform Compliance

After a comprehensive review, China Classification Society confirmed that the system design of the platform is scientifically sound, reasonable, and safe. In terms of overall layout, stability control, motion performance, basic structure, mooring safety, fire equipment configuration, power supply scheme optimization, and fire and explosion protection design, it fully meets the preset functional requirements, ensuring stable operation under the designed marine environmental conditions, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent industrialisation application of the platform.

II. Platform Technical Architecture and Core Innovations

1. Core Technology Integration: The platform relies on Dongfu Research Institute’s 17-megawatt (MW) floating offshore wind power platform (with a rotor diameter of 262 meters, capable of withstanding super typhoons up to level 17, and an annual power generation capacity of 68 million kilowatt-hours). It integrates the original principle technology of seawater non-desalination in-situ hydrogen production published by Academician Xie Heping's team in Nature in 2022 (this technology can produce hydrogen from seawater without desalination, pretreatment, or additional energy consumption, and has operated stably under sea winds of 3-8 levels and waves of 0.3-0.9 meters). Additionally, it overcomes key technologies such as offshore power management, system control, and high-pressure hydrogen storage, establishing an "wind power - seawater hydrogen production" integrated system.

2. Dual Breakthrough in Space and Cost: By innovatively utilizing the idle space between the columns of a semi-submersible platform and arranging the hydrogen production system inside the columns, both space utilization and construction costs are significantly improved; advanced stabilization devices designed for harsh sea conditions enhance the wind and wave resistance of the hydrogen production system, ensuring stable operation under complex sea conditions.

III. R&D Background and Industry Necessity

Currently, the development of near-shore wind resources in China is nearing saturation. Deep and far seas, due to their richer and higher-quality wind energy, have become the inevitable direction for offshore wind power development. However, long-distance power transmission in deep and far seas faces technical and cost challenges. On-site conversion of wind power into high-value hydrogen products is key to maximizing benefits, making the floating wind power coupled with seawater hydrogen production platform a hot topic for domestic and overseas R&D.

Dongfu Research Institute launched the R&D in H2 2023. The team conducted thorough technical demonstrations on the strength of the floating body, integration of hydrogen production modules, system coordination control, and full-process safety protection, based on the requirements of deep-sea working conditions, wind turbine operations, and hydrogen production processes. After precise calculations, repeated verifications, and multiple rounds of scheme iterations, the platform was finally completed.