Germany greenlights €19bn hydrogen network by 2032
Germany has approved plans to build a hydrogen network valued at 19 billion euros, reports Bloomberg. The planned transmission network, which will be 5,616 miles long and fully operational by 2032, is expected to be completed by then.
3:02 PM EDT, October 22, 2024
According to Bloomberg, Europe's largest economy aims to replace most of its fossil fuel needs with hydrogen to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. However, these efforts have recently faced challenges due to the cancellation of a key pipeline from Norway.
German officials recognize that most of the country's hydrogen demand must be met through imports. In the finalized plans, the length of the proposed transmission network was reduced by 373 miles, which allowed the investment cost to drop from 19.7 billion to 18.9 billion euros. Klaus Mueller, head of the Federal Network Agency, mentioned that some initial plans were unnecessary.
more hydrogen pipelines in Europe
About 60 percent of the future hydrogen network will be converted from existing gas pipelines. Mueller noted that approximately 410 miles of current gas connections will be reinforced, costing around 2 billion euros. The first pipelines are expected to be operational next year.
This initiative is part of a broader hydrogen infrastructure construction effort. The hydrogen pipeline from Finland to Germany, passing through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, is poised to be one of Europe’s first cross-border projects.
According to the preliminary feasibility study for the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC) project, which has been designated as a priority investment by the EU, the planned pipeline diameter is 4 feet, and several compressor stations will be located along the 1,553-mile section.
The construction of this hydrogen corridor is part of the energy transition and decarbonization strategy for the EU economy, where hydrogen is expected to be one of the key fuels.
