HyNOS North Sea Summit expert paper
Integrated offshore wind and hydrogen production in the Northern Seas
HyNOS (Hydrogen Networks of the Northern Seas) presents its first Expert Paper to inform ministers, regulators and industry leaders at the North Sea Summit. The paper sets out why hydrogen produced onshore and offshore, must be planned alongside electricity to unlock the full North Sea potential, cut system costs, and strengthen Europe’s energy security.
Unlocking the Northern Seas’ potential
Europe’s energy transition requires a balanced mix of electricity and molecules to achieve climate goals, energy security, and industrial competitiveness. Hydrogen will play a critical role alongside electrification, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors and for system flexibility. Offshore wind expansion in the Northern Seas offers vast renewable potential, but integrating large volumes of fluctuating electricity requires new solutions. Electrolysers can convert surplus renewable electricity into green hydrogen, reducing curtailment and supporting offshore wind growth. Furthermore, hydrogen provides advantages such as low-cost transport via pipelines, large-scale storage, and enhanced system resilience.
This integrated approach allows Europe to tap into one of its greatest natural resources, the North Sea wind, while strengthening the flexibility and long‑term stability of the energy system. Achieving Europe’s climate and energy goals will require a balanced mix of electrons and molecules. It is not a matter of choosing one over the other, both are needed. Electrification where possible, molecules where necessary.
HyNOS: Shaping Europe’s hydrogen future together
HyNOS is a collaboration of emerging hydrogen transmission system operators (H2-TSOs) from Northern Seas-bordering countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Together, these countries recognize the potential of on- and offshore hydrogen production and infrastructure as a pillar of Europe’s energy transition. By aligning their efforts and working closely with electricity TSOs and European energy bodies, HyNOS helps ensure that offshore hydrogen infrastructure evolves in a coherent, efficient way across countries. The initiative supports the creation of a shared vision for how hydrogen production can strengthen Europe’s energy independence and accelerate industrial decarbonisation.
Key messages from HyNOS
- Hydrogen is essential alongside electrons: Europe’s transition cannot rely on electrification alone; green molecules are needed for industry, heavy transport and seasonal balancing.
- Integrated planning cuts system costs: Aligning offshore wind zones, grid connections, and hydrogen corridors enables higher asset utilisation and reduces curtailment.
- The North Sea as a resilient energy hub: Regionally produced hydrogen strengthens security of supply and competitiveness.
- Policy framework to enable integrated build‑out: HyNOS asks governments to designate integrated offshore wind areas, design tenders that incentivise co‑located electrolysis, and require electricity and hydrogen TSOs to jointly plan and deliver both power and hydrogen connections to each zone.
Fluxys' vision: from model to infrastructure
As hydrogen network operator in Belgium, Fluxys hydrogen advances an open‑access H₂ backbone embedded in the European vision and recognized as a Project of Common Interest, with cross‑border links to Germany, France and Luxembourg.
Fluxys has also developed the North Sea Integration Model, a multi‑energy simulation for electricity–hydrogen–methane–CO₂ interactions across the region, showing how offshore electrolysis acts as dispatchable demand that reduces curtailment and system costs.
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- Thierry VervenneTim De Vil