Internship Large-Scale Off-Grid Hydrogen Production

Internship Large-Scale Off-Grid Hydrogen Production

Through this internship, you will have the opportunity to

• Engage with different experts in the field of the energy transition
• Obtain understanding of the technical, economical and environmental aspects of hydrogen production sites
• Gather and structure information from various sources into a calculation model for the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH)

The internship will aid the development of knowledge on off-grid hydrogen production, a service to be used within Royal HaskoningDHV. This knowledge will then help the hydrogen sector in the strategic and decision-making processes for off-grid hydrogen production projects.

What you do as an off-grid hydrogen production intern

The assignment consists of a literature review of the options for balancing and maintaining large-scale off-grid hydrogen production, focusing on different technological solutions and building a model to calculate the economic impact on the LCOH.

The main questions are: What are the main essential components to realize an off-grid hydrogen production site? What are the associated costing parameters involved (CAPEX, OPEX)?

To answer this main question, a number of options to enable off-grid hydrogen production need to be explored in more detail:

• Installing a battery system for balancing the system and short-term storage is a very expensive solution. What % battery capacity would you need to keep the grid stable?
• Investigate the options available with respect to power conversion (e.g. grid forming converters
• What alternatives could be used for stability (and possibly energy storage), such as a generator, fuel cell. And how do these alternatives compare in terms of costs and sustainability (mainly CO2 emissions)?
• What would be the minimum components (e.g. battery capacity) required to maintain the electrical system energized during no-load (no hydrogen production) or periods without generation?

Background information

Renewable hydrogen is an energy carrier or feedstock with a low CO2 footprint, which can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.

Royal HaskoningDHV is involved in several projects, for example in Morocco, where large-scale (order of magnitude GW installed capacity) hydrogen production without grid connection (off-grid) is being investigated. These projects are often located in areas with good wind and/or solar conditions, but in remote locations (far from a grid connection). The hydrogen could be converted to a hydrogen carrier (e.g. ammonia, methanol) and transported (through pipeline/ship) to end users.

To compare and determine the techno-economic feasibility of different hydrogen production projects, we would like to be able to economically compare this option with alternatives, for example, hydrogen production in the Netherlands, hydrogen production connected to the electricity grid or expanding the grid towards the remotely located region.

The renewable electricity, produced from wind and/or sun, is transported by cable to an electrolyser. A battery energy storage system (BESS) has the function of balancing the system and allowing short-term storage of electricity.

Many existing studies on LCOH calculations of these systems lack the additional cost for an off-grid system.

Where you will work

Royal HaskoningDHV is a worldwide independent engineering, project management and consultancy firm which integrates 140 years of engineering expertise with digital technologies and software solutions. Our 6,000 colleagues are working from offices in more than 25 countries across the world. Through our mission Enhancing Society Together, we take responsibility for having a positive impact on the world.

As our new intern you will become part of the Advisory Group Energy & Process. This team consists of around 90 colleagues and enables the industry transition with a focus on renewable energy & decarbonisation of industry.

We provide our clients, both private and (semi)governmental, with a range of services varying from roadmapping, feasibility studies to conceptual design. We have a strong foothold in the Netherlands, but we operate worldwide.

What you bring

The internship will be suitable for you if you

• are a MSc student in Electrical Engineering
• are available full-time for the duration of the internship (3 months)
• have an interest in the role of hydrogen in the energy transition
• have good command of English (verbal and in writing)

What we offer you

During your internship at Royal HaskoningDHV you will learn what it is like to work in a consultancy firm and more specifically energy transition projects executed by the advisory group Energy & Process. You will be fully part of the team and as such you are invited to participate in all team activities both project related and social activities. You will also receive a monthly allowance.

“Working at Royal HaskoningDHV has been a transformative experience, allowing me to engage with cutting-edge projects and a diverse team.” Toine, Senior Consultant Industrial Automation

“The collaborative environment at Royal HaskoningDHV has enabled me to grow professionally and contribute to meaningful projects.” Violeta, Consultant in Environment and Social Performance