Haeolus · Project

Turning Excess Wind Power into Hydrogen at Remote Wind Farms

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Imagine a wind farm so remote that it can't send all its electricity to the grid because the power lines aren't big enough. Instead of wasting that extra energy, this project installed a machine that splits water into hydrogen using the surplus power — like a battery, but one that stores energy as a gas you can use later or sell. The team built the whole system in shipping containers, dropped it into an Arctic wind farm in Norway, and ran it by remote control — no one needed to be on site even in winter. They tested it in different modes to show it works for everything from backup power to producing green fuel.

By the numbers

2.5 MW

Electrolyser capacity installed at wind farm site

Consortium partners across the project

Countries represented in the consortium (BE, ES, FR, IT, NO)

Industry partners in the consortium

53%

Industry ratio in the consortium

Total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Wind farms — especially large or remote ones — frequently produce more electricity than the grid can absorb. This curtailed energy is pure waste: the turbines spin, the wind blows, but the power has nowhere to go. For offshore and Arctic installations, the problem compounds because sending maintenance crews is expensive and seasonal, making any on-site equipment harder to justify.

The solution

What was built

A fully integrated 2.5 MW PEM electrolyser system, containerised and installed at the Raggovidda wind farm in Arctic Norway. The system includes hydrogen storage, a fuel cell for re-electrification, remote monitoring and control, and a diagnostic/prognostic system to minimise maintenance. It was tested in multiple configurations including energy storage, mini-grid operation, and hydrogen fuel production.

Audience

Who needs this

Wind farm operators with grid-constrained or curtailed sitesGreen hydrogen project developers looking for proven wind-to-hydrogen systemsRemote facility operators (mining, islands, Arctic) needing off-grid power solutionsIndustrial gas companies seeking green hydrogen supply chain technologyUtility companies planning grid flexibility and energy storage investments

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Wind Farm Operations

enterprise

Target: Wind farm operators and developers with grid-constrained sites

If you are a wind farm operator losing revenue because the grid cannot absorb all the power you generate — this project developed and demonstrated a 2.5 MW containerised PEM electrolyser that converts curtailed wind energy into storable hydrogen. The system was tested at the Raggovidda wind farm in Norway with remote monitoring, meaning you can deploy it at hard-to-reach locations without permanent staff on site.

Industrial Hydrogen Supply

mid-size

Target: Green hydrogen producers and industrial gas suppliers

If you are an industrial gas company looking for proven green hydrogen production setups — this project built and operated a wind-to-hydrogen plant with 17 partners across 5 countries. The containerised electrolyser is a standard commercial model, tested in multiple operating modes including fuel production. The diagnostic and prognostic system reduces unexpected downtime and maintenance costs.

Remote Power and Off-Grid Energy

any

Target: Mining companies, island utilities, or remote facility operators needing off-grid energy solutions

If you run operations in remote or off-grid locations and depend on expensive diesel generators — this project demonstrated a wind-hydrogen-fuel cell system that can operate as a mini-grid with remote monitoring and control. Tested through Arctic winters in Varanger, Norway, the system proved it can run without on-site personnel, making it practical for locations that are hard to access year-round.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does a system like this cost to deploy?

The project data does not disclose equipment or deployment costs. However, the electrolyser is described as a standard containerised commercial model from project partner Hydrogenics (now Cummins), which means pricing is available through their commercial channels. The containerised design and remote monitoring reduce installation and operating costs at hard-to-reach sites.

Can this scale beyond 2.5 MW?

The 2.5 MW electrolyser demonstrated in this project is a modular, containerised unit. The project specifically tested multiple operating configurations — energy storage, mini-grid, and fuel production — to prove relevance to wind farms of different sizes across the EU. Scaling up would involve adding more container units rather than redesigning the system.

Who owns the IP and can I license this technology?

The consortium includes 17 partners across 5 countries, with 9 industry partners including Hydrogenics (electrolyser manufacturer) and other commercial players. The containerised electrolyser is described as a standard commercial model, suggesting core hardware is already commercially available. Specific IP arrangements would need to be discussed with the coordinator, SINTEF AS in Norway.

Has this been tested in real operating conditions?

Yes. The system was physically installed and operated at the Raggovidda wind farm in Varanger, Norway — an Arctic location with harsh winters and limited access. Demo deliverables confirm components were installed, qualified, verified, and housed in a purpose-built hall for year-round operation. Remote monitoring and control allowed operation without on-site personnel.

What regulations apply to wind-hydrogen installations?

The project obtained all necessary legal authorisations for the Norwegian site through partner Varanger Kraft (VK). Public reports were produced on the business case, environmental impact, and applicability of electrolysers at wind farms. These reports can help navigate permitting in other jurisdictions.

How long did it take from installation to operation?

The project ran from January 2018 to December 2023. Site preparation, construction of the housing hall, and installation of containerised components were sequenced to account for Arctic conditions — major construction was scheduled for summer months. Based on available project data, the system was designed for rapid deployment using pre-built, factory-tested containers.

What maintenance is required?

The project developed a dedicated diagnostic and prognostic system specifically to minimise maintenance requirements. Combined with remote monitoring and control, the system is designed to operate without permanent on-site personnel — critical for remote locations like Raggovidda that are difficult to access in winter.

Consortium

Who built it

The Haeolus consortium is heavily industry-oriented, with 9 out of 17 partners (53%) coming from industry — a strong signal that this project was built for commercial relevance, not just academic research. SINTEF AS, one of Europe's largest independent research organisations, coordinates the project from Norway. The presence of Hydrogenics (commercial electrolyser manufacturer), Varanger Kraft (local utility and site operator), and technology integrators alongside 5 universities and 3 research organisations creates a well-balanced team that covers everything from component manufacturing to on-site deployment. The 5-country spread (Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Norway) ensures the results are tested against diverse European regulatory and market conditions.

SINTEF ASCoordinator · NO
STIFTELSEN SINTEFparticipant · NO
UNIVERSITE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE BELFORT - MONTBELIARDthirdparty · FR
FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATIONparticipant · ES
HYDROGENICS EUROPE NVparticipant · BE
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DEL SANNIOparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITE MARIE ET LOUIS PASTEURthirdparty · FR
ECOLE NATIONALE SUPERIEURE DE MECANIQUE ET DES MICROTECHNIQUESthirdparty · FR

How to reach the team

SINTEF AS (Norway) — contact through SciTransfer for introduction to the project coordinator and technical leads

Order a report on this consortium See SINTEF AS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how wind-to-hydrogen technology from Haeolus could solve your grid curtailment or remote energy challenges? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction to the right people in the consortium — contact us for a one-page brief.

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