Germany opens floating fuel plant powered by offshore wind, sea

Germany has launched its first offshore floating plant designed to produce synthetic fuels directly at sea using wind energy, seawater, and ambient air. Developed by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) under the H2Mare hydrogen lead project, the modular, off-grid platform is installed on a barge anchored in Bremerhaven and will begin offshore operations near Helgoland later in 2025. The system integrates direct air capture (DAC) to extract CO₂, seawater desalination, and high-temperature electrolysis to generate hydrogen-rich synthesis gas, which is then converted into liquid synthetic fuels via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. This floating facility operates independently of the power grid and adapts dynamically to fluctuating offshore wind energy supply. The PtX-Wind project aims to demonstrate a full Power-to-X process chain in real marine conditions, assessing environmental impacts, material durability, and legal frameworks for offshore fuel production. Beyond synthetic fuels, researchers plan to explore additional Power-to-X products such as liquid methane,