Kick-off for German core hydrogen network

The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has approved the core hydrogen network proposed by gas pipeline network providers. The network spans 9,040 kilometres of pipelines in total, which are to be successively put into operation by 2032. Around 60 percent of these will be converted from gas to hydrogen and 40 percent will be newly built. The expected investment costs amount to 18.9 billion euros.

“Since the core hydrogen network has been approved, the network operators can now build and operate the infrastructure for hydrogen step by step. The first pipelines will be converted starting next year. All those involved have been working intensively on the process and the planning for more than one and a half years and have conducted discussions, which were not always easy, in a constructive manner, for which I want to thank them sincerely”, says Klaus Müller, President of the German Federal Network Agency. The core hydrogen network is the first step in the development of a Germany-wide hydrogen network.
The core hydrogen network connects the future hydrogen clusters throughout Germany. Regional and local hydrogen projects, for example in industrial or business parks, are bundled in these clusters. The core hydrogen network also takes into account the connection with neighbouring countries. The German Federal Network Agency approved the application with minor adjustments. For example, only pipelines that are necessary for transport in the core hydrogen network were approved.
Source: German Federal Network Agency