Green hydrogen from the sea through intelligent propulsion technology
How OCEANERGY is rethinking wind energy with kite ships and drive solutions from WITTENSTEIN alpha and revolutionizing the industrial production of green hydrogen.
The challenge: generating renewable energy where it is constantly available
The industrial production of green hydrogen is considered a key technology for the energy transition, but it often fails due to the insufficient availability of renewable energies.
The start-up OCEANERGY is therefore pursuing a completely new approach: mobile energy ships that harvest wind energy on the high seas, where it is available almost permanently. Products from WITTENSTEIN play a key role in this solution.
The solution: Mobile energy ships with patented K1 kite propulsion
At the heart of the concept is the patented K1 kite propulsion system, which harnesses wind energy using large airborne kites at altitudes of up to 1,000 meters. Unlike conventional wind turbines, the system does not passively wait for wind – it actively navigates to global high-wind zones.
- Power generation through kite pumping (traction-to-power)
- Simultaneous use of residual traction for ship propulsion
- Overall efficiency significantly higher than stationary systems
Simulations using actual wind data from recent years show that the energy ships can operate their generators at rated power up to 97% of the time – many times more than conventional offshore wind power.
A major challenge in development: even with sail areas of 60 m2, forces of up to four tons act on each of the kite ropes. Gearboxes with cynapse® from WITTENSTEIN alpha perform important functions in controlling the kite propulsion system.
Precision and reliability for extreme conditions
OCEANERGY relies on drive technology from WITTENSTEIN alpha to control the kite ropes, which can be up to 1,200 meters long. Hypoid bevel gears from the TPK+ series perform key tasks in controlled energy generation in the main axis of the K1 system.
The decision was deliberately made in favor of a future-proof, mechatronic solution with integrated cynapse® functionality.
Insights into the project
In WITTENSTEIN, we found a highly competent team that used the data we provided to deliver the right solutions quickly and directly.
Smart transmissions for autonomous energy ships
Since KITE HYDROGEN SHIPS are expected to operate autonomously and unmanned in the future, condition monitoring plays a central role.
The cynapse® technology continuously provides operating and sensor data such as acceleration and load conditions. This data enables:
- Early anomaly detection
- Predictive maintenance
- Maximum operational safety on the high seas
A decisive factor for the economical continuous operation of energy ships.
The collaboration was simple, straightforward, and always just a phone call away. So everything was just as it should be.
Our products in use at OCEANERGY
TPK+
The TPK+ series hypoid angle gears are attached to the motors of a manufacturer from our region and are used to control the four kite ropes, which are up to 1,200 meters long.
cynapse®
The cynapse® functionality – i.e., integrated sensor technology, logic, and IO-Link data interface – in the TPK+ gearboxes will provide important operating and status data in the future when the energy ships navigate the strong wind zones of the oceans.
The vision: Global hydrogen production on the open sea
The idea for the KITE HYDROGEN SHIP came to Dr. Wolfram Reiners, one of the founders of the start-up and himself an enthusiastic kite surfer, while kite surfing: the forces acting on the kite sail and pulling on the ropes could surely be converted into electrical energy.
He is implementing this approach together with his fellow board member Ulrich Dobler and the team. An electric auxiliary drive is only intended for emergencies and for navigation near ports.
A single KITE HYDROGEN SHIP can produce around 1,000 tons of green hydrogen on an eight-week voyage – enough to power around 40,000 hydrogen cars for a year. With a fleet of 5,000 ships, a 10% global market share in the hydrogen market could be achieved – and a gigatonne reduction in CO₂ emissions.
Hydrogen from an energy ship in just 8 weeks
Nominal power—many times greater than offshore wind turbines.
large kites
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