Hydrogen to start to flow in pipelines in Germany in 2025
Clean Energy Wire
Germany is set to see the first hydrogen flow in pipelines in 2025, following approval of the country's hydrogen "core grid" by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA). "The first hydrogen pipelines of the core grid will go into operation as early as next year," economy minister Robert Habeck said during a press conference. "The core grid is the starting point for a new infrastructure and a central component of the energy transition. This makes Germany a pioneer in Europe."
The core grid is set to be completed by 2032 and will cost nearly 19 billion euros. It will be made up of 9,040 kilometres of pipeline that will be completed over the next few years. That is about 600 kilometres less than in the initial approval application – a reduction Habeck said will keep grid fees down.
All federal states will be connected to the network, which will link the focal points of hydrogen production, consumption, storage and import. Habeck likened the hydrogen grid to the autobahn (Germany's motorway), saying that the big arteries had to be built first, with smaller feeder roads connecting companies and power plants coming later.
The grid – a key part of the country's plans to reach net-zero by 2045 – isn't completed, Habeck said. But it "will now be built”, he said, adding that the two and a half years it took to get the project from idea to approval was a "record" for the ministry. That is despite criticisms that the process has been too slow.
Around 60 percent of the grid will be converted gas pipelines and 40 percent will be newly built. Only pipelines no longer needed for transportation of the fossil fuel will be converted, while an extra 2 billion euros will be invested in additional gas pipelines to ensure security of supply, said BNetzA head Klaus Müller at the press conference.
Germany's National Hydrogen Council, an independent government advisory body, welcomed the BNetzA's approval, saying it was an "important signal" for the green energy transition and would help make Germany a pioneer in hydrogen infrastructure.
Imports will cover most of Germany's hydrogen needs but a recent report by environmental think tank Wuppertal Institute said that many states will focus on ramping up production for domestic demand first. The report suggested Germany needed "more in-house production" of hydrogen, while at the same time bolstering global alliances. The authors called for an increase in cooperation across Europe to expand the H2 economy.
