Hydrogen microturbine to support offshore seafood production project

Hydrogen-capable microturbines may prove capable of supporting a DC microgrid with multiple renewable sources to support a sustainable seafood production project in Australia.

Capstone Green Energy (formerly Capstone Turbine Corporation) received an order for a microturbine, intended to run on hydrogen, from Blue Economy CRC for an integral part of an offshore DC-power based microgrid that will support offshore research and aquaculture for food production.

Blue Economy CRC is a cooperative research center in partnership with national and international universities and industry that was established to bring together sustainable seafood production and renewable energy in Australia's aquaculture industry. The microgrid will manage the energy generated from readily available offshore, renewable resources, including solar, wind, and waves, and use it to produce hydrogen via a 700 kW electrolyzer.

The hydrogen produced by the ITM Power electrolyzer will be connected to the microturbine, which will provide power on demand. The result is expected to be a safe and clean microgrid that serves as an opportunity to showcase the environmental benefits and flexibility of green hydrogen as an energy storage medium and fuel source for power generation.

Beyond offering the potential for 100% hydrogen-fuel-based power generation, the microturbine was suitable for the project due to its ability to operate at partial loads while matching its output to the demands of the rest of the microgrid system.

The initial stage of the project aims to provide proof of concept for a DC microgrid combined with multiple renewable sources. Subsequently, a full marinization and commercialization of the system will be completed to support remote, offshore operation.