Clean Hydrogen Coastline

Clean Hydrogen Coastline

von | Juli 25, 2024 | Industrie, Mobilität, News, Speicherung, Transport, Wasserstoffherstellung

PROJECTS

Source: EWE
About 400 megawatts of electrolysis capacity will be built in the Clean Hydrogen Coastline project in the Northwest region by 2026. Image source: ©EWE

Clean Hydrogen Coastline

The German North Sea coast is of particular importance in the development of a nationwide hydrogen economy. Due to the high supply of renewable energies, hydrogen can not only be produced in the region, but also stored, integrated into the energy system via existing electricity and gas infrastructure, or used directly on site. The "Important Project of Common European Interest" (IPCEI) "Clean Hydrogen Coastline" is intended to contribute to the development and expansion of the hydrogen economy in the Northwest region.
News (10.06.2025): Trafos sind in Emden angekommen!

Am 07.06. erreichten die zwei (rund 300 Tonnen schweren) Transformatoren den Emdener Hafen. Dieser Schritt ist ein weiterer wichtiger Meilenstein, damit das Projekt auf Kurs bleiben kann.  Mehr dazu. Außerdem sind die vorbereitenden Arbeiten erfolgreich gestartet. Mehr dazu.

News (07.04.2025): Baustart wird vorbereitet!

Vom 14. – 21.04. wird in Huntorf das Gelände aufgeschüttet, damit die Grundlage für den Bau des Wasserstoffspeichers gelegt werden kann. Mehr dazu.

News (21.03.2025): Neuer Meilenstein erreicht!

EWE hat den Auftrag für die Verdichter an NEUMAN & ESSER gegeben. Mehr.

News (25.07.2024): Energy supplier EWE awards contract for large-scale hydrogen project in Emden to Siemens Energy
The energy supplier EWE has announced that Siemens Energy will support the construction of one of Europe's largest hydrogen production plants in Emden. The entire production plant, consisting of electrolysis and the necessary peripherals - such as compressors and cooling systems - will have an average power consumption of around 320 megawatts over its lifetime. The energy technology group will supply a 280-megawatt electrolysis system as the centerpiece of the plant. The plant in Emden is scheduled to go into operation in 2027 and will then provide around 26,000 tons of green hydrogen per year for various applications. Read more
News (15.02.2024): IPCEI projects: European Commission approves funding
As the European Commission announced, the third IPCEI round under the title "Hy2Infra" has now been approved. This allows the member states to provide public funding of up to 6.9 billion euros. In the current round, 32 companies are involved in 33 projects - including the Clean Hydrogen Coastline project. Learn more
News (16.01.2024): Hydrogen cooperation between EWE and ArcelorMittal Bremen
As EWE and steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal announced yesterday, the two companies have agreed on their next hydrogen cooperation. EWE is to supply green hydrogen to Bremen to enable the decarbonization of the steel industry there. At the heart of the project is a 320-megawatt generation plant, which is to be installed in Emden and is expected to produce green hydrogen from 2028.

The starting point for this project is the large-scale "Clean Hydrogen Coastline" project. In this project, a hydrogen economy with production, storage and transportation options is being established on the North Sea coast. The hydrogen will ultimately be used in industry - in addition to ArcelorMittal Bremen, for example, also in Salzgitter at Salzgitter AG. Learn more

News (24.08.2023): Cooperation between EWE AG and Georgsmarienhütte GmbH!
Grüner Stahl aus Georgsmarienhütte – EWE AG und Georgsmarienhütte GmbH geben Wasserstoff-Kooperation bekannt für eine komplett klimaneutrale Stahlherstellung ab 2039!

From 2039, steel from Georgsmarienhütte is to be produced in a climate-neutral way. Cooperation partner EWE will supply the green hydrogen from production plants in north-west Germany.

Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil commented: "I am delighted that EWE and Georgsmarienhütte have agreed to significantly accelerate the development of the hydrogen industry. Large quantities of renewable energy and green hydrogen are needed for the new climate-friendly processes. Lower Saxony offers unique locational advantages in these areas in particular: a lot of wind energy on land and at sea, important seaports for the import and distribution of green hydrogen and large-volume underground formations for storing hydrogen. Georgsmarienhütte in particular is taking a big step towards sustainability. The steel industry forms the basis of many value chains and will secure jobs in the long term with this lighthouse project. With this pioneering industrial transformation, EWE and GMH Gruppe will make a significant contribution to achieving Lower Saxony's, and therefore Germany's and Europe's, climate protection targets."

More information about the cooperation.

News (04.05.2023): EWE and Salzgitter AG want to cooperate on hydrogen!

On May 4, 2023, Salzgitter AG and the utility company EWE signed a letter of intent in Salzgitter that provides for cooperation between the two companies in the field of hydrogen. EWE intends to produce green hydrogen and supply it to Salzgitter, which Salzgitter AG will then use for climate-friendly steel production as part of the SALCOS® project. The letter of intent was signed by the CEOs Stefan Dohler (EWE) and GUnnar Groebler (Salzgitter AG) at the Handesblatt Hydrogen Summit.

The cooperation also means that the two major Lower Saxony projects Clean Hydrogen Coastline by EWE and SALCOS® by Salzgitter AG will be more closely networked, which Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil also welcomes: "EWE and Salzgitter AG want to cooperate closely on green hydrogen - this is very good news for Lower Saxony as an energy state. This cooperation is another milestone on the way to decarbonizing steel production. I am delighted that EWE is making a decisive contribution to Salzgitter AG's flagship SALCOS® project with the production and transportation of green hydrogen."

Learn more

Im IPCEI „Clean Hydrogen Coastline“ wollen die Industriepartner ArcelorMittal, EWE, Gasunie, swb und Tennet in der Region Nordwest 400 Megawatt Elektrolysekapazität bis zum Jahr 2026 aufbauen. Hierzu gibt es verschiedene Projekte, die bei der Umsetzung helfen sollen.

  • In sub-project 1 "Electrolysis East Frisia", EWE plans to build a 320-megawatt electrolysis plant in Emden and use it to produce hydrogen on an industrial scale. According to EWE, hydrogen could be produced from renewable energies in Emden as early as 2028.
  • In sub-project 2 "Electrolysis Bremen", EWE also wants to build an electrolyzer, but in the Hanseatic city of Bremen. Like the hydrogen from Emden, the green hydrogen from the 50-megawatt electrolyzer is to be used for climate-neutral steel production, among other things. There are plans to supply hydrogen to ArcelorMittal's Bremen site, Salzgitter AG and Georgsmarienhütte, for example.
  • In the third sub-project, "Huntorf storage facility", EWE is planning to connect the hydrogen infrastructure to its cavern storage facility in Huntorf. The plan is to convert an underground natural gas storage facility and above-ground facilities for hydrogen storage. EWE's HyCAVmobil research project, in which the company is storing hydrogen on a much smaller scale in cavern storage facilities in Rüdersdorf near Berlin, is expected to yield important findings.
  • As part of sub-project 4 "H2 Pipeline Infrastructure Northwest", the hydrogen infrastructure in the northwest is to be optimized. The construction and conversion of several pipeline sections will connect important hydrogen consumers and storage facilities to the future European hydrogen transport network.

Clean Hydrogen Coastline's many links, for example with the Dutch partners, but also with projects in Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, offer extensive potential for a European IPCEI. This will enable the partners to take a decisive step towards becoming an important building block of a future European hydrogen economy. The main goal of the project is to Integration of hydrogen into existing energy infrastructures.

Partner

©ArcelorMittal
©EWE
©Tennet
ArcelorMittal ist ein internationaler Stahlproduzent mit einem Produktionsvolumen von sieben Millionen Tonnen Rohstahl (2019), der deutschlandweit rund 9.000 Angestellte beschäftigt.

Logo: © ArcelorMittal

 

With approximately 9,100 employees, the EWE AG one of the largest utility companies in Germany, which focuses on the corresponding infrastructure in the hydrogen sector.

Logo: © EWE AG

TenneT TSO GmbH ist ein Übertragungsnetzbetreiber mit einer Netzlänge von 24.000 Kilometern und ca. 5.700 Beschäftigten.

Logo: © TenneT TSO GmbH

©Gasunie Germany
©SWB
The Gasunie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG ist als Fernleitungsnetzbetreiber für ein rund 4.300 Kilometer langes Fernleitungsnetz verantwortlich.

Logo: © Gasunie Germany

The swb AG ist ein regionales Versorgungsunternehmen für Bremen und Bremerhaven mit rund 2.255 Beschäftigten.

Logo: © swb AG

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    H2March

    H2March

    by | May 13, 2024 | General, Industry, News, Storage, Transportation, Hydrogen production

    PROJECTS

    Hydrogen economySource: Hydrogen Alliance Wesermarsch

    H2Marsch: Hydrogen for a climate-friendly industry in the Wesermarsch region

    Hydrogen is playing an increasingly important role in the planning of energy-intensive companies - especially when it comes to decarbonizing processes in the company that cannot be electrified or are difficult to electrify. Access to hydrogen is therefore becoming a key location factor. The "H2Marsch" alliance has therefore been formed in the Wesermarsch region with the aim of securing the region's supply of hydrogen. Hydrogen is to be procured by importing it by ship, producing hydrogen in the region and procuring it via a hydrogen pipeline. This should not only secure 6,000 jobs, but also reduce 240,000 tonsof CO2 emissions per year in the long term.

    News (13.05.2024): Feasibility study on the H2MARSCH project presented

    In order to investigate how the decarbonization of industry in the Wesermarsch region can best be achieved, the participating companies Airbus Aerostructures, DMK Deutsches Milchkontor, Glencore Nordenham, KRONOS TITAN, USG-Blexen and the energy group EWE with its subsidiaries EWE NETZ and EWE GASSPEICHER, the Wesermarsch Economic Development Agency and the towns of Brake (Unterweser) and Nordenham have now presented a feasibility study. Find out more

    As part of the H2 Marsch project, an alliance was formed in 2022 to procure hydrogen for the decarbonization of industry in the Wesermarsch region. There are several energy-intensive companies in the region that are dependent on hydrogen for successful decarbonization. The relevant regional hydrogen customers include Kronos Titan, Airbus Aerostructures, Glencore Nordenham and DMK Milchkontor. The EWE Huntorf gas storage facility (see project description) and the salt caverns of USG-Blexen are also being considered in the planning. The project is open to other players in the region. For example, the connection of the former Unterweser nuclear power plant as an energy hub and other new industrial and commercial areas are also being considered.

    The hydrogen alliance aims to procure around 500 gigawatt hours (GWh) of hydrogen to replace fossil fuels. Fossil energy consumption in the region currently stands at around 1,100 GWh, of which around half is to be electrified and around 50% provided by hydrogen (13,000 tons of hydrogen). According to the alliance, a successful transformation of industry in the Wesermarsch could not only secure 6,000 jobs, but also reduceCO2 emissions by 240,000 tons per year in the long term.

    The initiative is currently evaluating various ways of procuring hydrogen for the region. These include hydrogen imports by ship and hydrogen production in the region, as well as procurement by pipeline. Promising progress has already been made here, as the region was included in the design of the hydrogen core network.

    Source: H2March

    The timetable: Hydrogen use in the region to start in 2028

    A feasibility study is currently being carried out to identify potential ways of supplying the region with hydrogen. The transformation of the industrial plants is to begin as early as 2024 by first applying for funding in the area of research and development. The research and development itself will then start in 2025 and the transformation of the first industrial plants will finally begin in 2026.

    In the context of the region's own hydrogen production, the first drafts and approval procedures are planned for 2024. The operation of electrolysis plants is then planned from 2028.

    In the area of hydrogen imports, the necessary hydrogen infrastructure is to be built from 2025 - including through new pipeline construction, which has also been taken into account as part of the hydrogen core network . The hydrogen pipeline is to be laid in the form of a spur line from Huntdorf (where it is connected to the hydrogen core network) in the direction of Nordenham and along the existing gas pipeline route. Initial talks have also already been held with Bremerhaven. A connection via an extension of the route below the Weser would be conceivable.

    Through the various individual steps, the use of hydrogen in the region is expected to start in 2028.

    Source: H2 Marsh

    Project partners:

    The alliance project participants include the following companies/institutions:

    • Airbus Aerostructures
    • DMK Deutsches Milchkontor
    • EWE GAS STORAGE
    • EWE NETZ
    • Glencore Nordenham
    • KRONOS TITAN
    • City of Nordenham
    • USG-Blexen
    • Wesermarsch Economic Development Agency

    The project is accompanied by the BBH Group and is also supported by the district of Wesermarsch and the town of Brake.

    Interested in the Wesermarsch Hydrogen Alliance? 

    Are you interested in the Wesermarsch Hydrogen Alliance and the H2Marsch project? Then you are welcome to contact Tim Eshold (e-mail: tim.eshold@glencore.de)

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      HyPerLink

      HyPerLink

      von | Apr. 22, 2024 | Allgemein, Industrie, News, Transport

      PROJECTS

      Waste heat pipes_fotolia_©Aleksey-StemmerSource: Gasunie

      HyPerLink

      Gasunie's Hyperlink project aims to build an important hydrogen infrastructure in north-western Germany by connecting hydrogen producers and consumers. To this end, hydrogen pipelines are being built in Lower Saxony or existing natural gas pipelines are being rededicated to hydrogen as an energy source. The Hyperlink hydrogen network connects Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig Holstein and the Ruhr region with the Netherlands and Denmark.

      News (15.02.2024): IPCEI projects: European Commission approves funding

      As the European Commission announced, the third IPCEI round under the title "Hy2Infra" has now been approved. This allows the member states to provide public funding of up to 6.9 billion euros. In the current round, 32 companies are involved in 33 projects - including the Hyperlink project. Read more

      A successful hydrogen ramp-up requires an appropriate infrastructure that connects hydrogen producers with hydrogen consumers. The Hyperlink project is being realized in sub-projects. The Hyperlink 1 & 2 and Hyperlink 3 projects are so-called IPCEI projects (Important Projects of Common European Interest) and are funded accordingly.

      As part of Hyperlink 1 & 2 , a hydrogen pipeline system with a length of over 400 kilometers is to be built in Lower Saxony, connecting the Netherlands in the west, Hamburg in the east and Salzgitter in the south. As part of Hyperlink 1, a hydrogen pipeline is to be built between Hamburg and the Netherlands - this section could be completed as early as 2026 and connect relevant hydrogen consumers and producers.

      The Salzgitter AG steelworks is also to be connected to the grid. This section is scheduled to be commissioned in 2029. The first H2 infrastructure will largely be built by converting existing natural gas pipelines to hydrogen operation.

      Source: Gasunie

      In Hyperlink 3, Hyperlink 1 and 2 will be connected to the Danish hydrogen network, enabling the import of green hydrogen from Denmark. In addition, further customers from Schleswig-Holstein and possible import structures for hydrogen in Brunsbüttel and Stade will be connected.

      Hyperlink 4 is intended to enable the import of hydrogen from Norway by connecting the import structures in Wilhelmshaven to the Hyperlink 1 network. To this end, a 55-kilometre pipeline will be built by 2027, running from Wilhelmshaven to Barßel, where a pipeline from Hyperlink 1 runs.

      The final sub-project, Hyperlink 5, runs 356 kilometers from Barßel to the Ruhr region. This will give the Ruhr region access to hydrogen produced in northern Germany or imported from Norway, the Netherlands or Denmark. The pipeline is scheduled to be operational by 2027 and will be operated by Gasunie in cooperation with Thyssengas.

      "Hyperlink is closely linked to the Clean Hydrogen Coastline project and will create a connection between the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark as an important part of the European backbone."
      Britta van Boven

      Managing Director of the German-Dutch energy infrastructure company Gasunie Deutschland Transport Services

      More about the project

      Find out more about the project here or in the following video!

      Partner

      ©ArcelorMittal

      Gasunie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG is the transmission system operator responsible for an approximately 4,300 kilometre long transmission system.

      Logo: © Gasunie Germany

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        Get H2

        Get H2

        von | Feb. 29, 2024 | Industrie, News, Stromerzeugung, Transport, Wasserstoffherstellung

        PROJECTS

        ©nowegaSource: ©GETH2, nowega

        The GET H2 project aims to make hydrogen available nationwide. © GET H2

        Get H2

        The availability of green hydrogen is a key prerequisite for achieving climate targets and implementing the energy transition. The GET H2 project is therefore not only building up electrolysis capacities on a large scale, but also developing a transnational infrastructure with the coupling of all sectors. Regions in which a lot of green hydrogen is produced using wind and solar energy are to be connected directly to industrial hydrogen consumers with the help of the necessary infrastructure. 

        News (12.03.2025): RWE und TotalEnergies unterzeichnen Abnahmevertrag!

        Über 15 Jahre lang wird TotalEnergies von RWE grünen Wasserstoff beziehen. Ab 2030 werden pro Jahr etwa 30.o00 Tonnen H2 in die Raffinerie nach Leuna (Sachsen-Anhalt) fließen. Weitere Details.

        News (11.09.2024): Third electrolysis plant commissioned!

        RWE commissions Sunfire and Bilfinger to build the third electrolysis plant in Lingen. After completion of the plant by 2027, a total electrolysis capacity of 300 MW will be available. More information.

        News (15.02.2024): IPCEI projects: European Commission approves funding

        As the European Commission announced, the third IPCEI round under the title "Hy2Infra" has now been approved. This allows the member states to provide public funding of up to 6.9 billion euros. In the current round, 32 companies are involved in 33 projects - including the GET H2 project. Find out more

        News (16.10.2023): Germany's first natural gas pipeline is being prepared for conversion to hydrogen!

        In the district of Emsland, a natural gas pipeline is being prepared for conversion to hydrogen for the first time in Germany today. This involves a pipeline between Emsbüren and Bad Bentheim. In the first step, the natural gas is to be pumped out of the existing natural gas pipelines over a length of 30 kilometers. This will enable the use of hydrogen in the pipelines - however, according to network operator OGE, it will take until the beginning of 2025 before this can actually flow in the pipelines.

        In future, the pipeline will transport hydrogen from Emsland to industrial customers in the Ruhr region. Learn more

        News (27.09.2023): planned H2 connection in Lingen approved!

        And more news this week: the planned H2 connection from Schepsdorf to Hanekenfähr in Lingen has been approved by the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG). The hydrogen from RWE AG will pass through the 2.3 km long pipeline. More...

        News (27.09.2023): First hydrogen is produced!

        The electrolyzer with an output of 250 kW has produced the first hydrogen in Lingen. The high-temperature solid oxide electrolyzer (SOEC) can thus produce up to 170 kg of hydrogen per day. More...

        News (26.09.2023): Realization contracts of the partners are signed!

        The partners bp, Evonik, Nowega, OGE and RWE have signed the realization contracts to come a step closer to implementing the first integrated IPCEI hydrogen project as part of the GET H2 initiative. Click here for the press release.

        News (31.03.2023): RWE orders two 100-megawatt electrolysis plants from Linde for GET H2 in Lingen!

        RWE has ordered two more 100 MW PEM electrolysers for the GETH2 project. In total, an electrolysis capacity of 300 MW is to be created in Lingen by 2026. An EU funding decision for the IPCEI project is still pending. More...

        Quelle: RWE

        As part of the "GET H2" project, hydrogen is to be made available nationwide in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia by establishing the corresponding electrolysis capacities and the necessary infrastructure. To this end, existing gas infrastructure in particular is to be converted to hydrogen operation and green hydrogen is to be provided for industry in North Rhine-Westphalia. For example, Thyssenkrupp's steelworks, Evonik's Marl Chemical Park and bp Gelsenkirchen's Ruhr-Oel refinery are to be connected - but a connection to Salzgitter AG in Lower Saxony is also planned.

        Implementation is to take place in several stages up to 2030:

        2025: GetH2 nucleus: By 2025, the GET H2 partners want to build up an electrolysis capacity of 100 megawatts in Lingen - in perspective, this is set to increase to 300 megawatts. The production of green hydrogen in Lingen is also to be linked with industrial customers in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. To this end, a network around 130 kilometers long from Lingen to Gelsenkirchen will be prepared for hydrogen operation by 2025 - on the one hand by converting existing gas pipelines from Nowega and OGE and on the other hand by building a new pipeline from the electrolysis plant in Lingen to the main pipeline in the direction of the Ruhr region.

        Source: GET H2

        2026: Generation and infrastructure: A second 100 MW electrolysis plant with a connection to bp's hydrogen network is to be built in Lingen in 2026 as part of the "Lingen Green Hydrogen" project. Among other things, the plant will supply the adjacent refinery with green hydrogen. Nowega is also converting another section of the pipeline to transport hydrogen, which will be used to connect the Salzgitter AG steelworks (Salzgitter AG is driving forward climate-friendly steel production using hydrogen as part of the SALCOS project ).

        2027: Connection to the Netherlands: According to plans, the connection to the Dutch border will be completed by 2027. The connection to the Vlieghuis import point will be implemented by GET H2 partner Thyssengas. In addition, the RWE electrolysis plant in Lingen is to be expanded to a capacity of 300 MW by 2027.

        2030: Connecting the building blocks: The final step is to connect Salzgitter AG via existing Nowega gas pipelines by 2030, which will be converted to hydrogen transportation.

        Source: GET H2

        GreatCO2 avoidance potential

        By using green hydrogen in refineries, in steel production and for other industrial uses, the overall project hasthe potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 16 million tons by 2030, according to the project partners. Other companies in the respective regions should also benefit from the implementation, as medium-sized companies, for example, can also be connected to the network as additional producers or consumers of green hydrogen.

        All projects are subject to a final investment decision by the respective project partners.

        Partner

        ©bp

        The transmission system operator GASCADE Gastransport GmbH transports around 109 billion m³ of natural gas per year via its own 2,900 km long pipeline network. In the future, the network will also be used to transport hydrogen.

        Logo: © GASCADE Gastransport GmbH

        BASF is a chemical company with over 110,000 employees. The company is currently developing methane pyrolysis, a process for the climate-friendly production of hydrogen.

        Logo: © BASF SE

        BP Europa SE is an international energy group with around 10,500 employees. In the area of fuels, the group is researching climate-friendly alternatives that can replace fossil fuels.

        Logo: © BP Europa SE

        RWE Generation SE is part of RWE AG and responsible for power generation. In the field of hydrogen, the company is involved in everything from the generation of renewable energies to the production of hydrogen and its storage.

        Logo: © RWE AG

        Thyssengas GmbH is a long-distance gas network operator for natural gas with a 4,400 km long transport network and conducts research in various projects on the topic of hydrogen and hydrogen infrastructure.

        Logo: © Thyssengas GmbH

        Evonik is a specialty chemicals company with more than 33,000 employees. The company is currently working on an innovative membrane to make electrolysis more efficient and thus more economical.

        Logo: © Evonik Industries AG

        Nowega GmbH is a long-distance pipeline operator with around 1,500 km of high-pressure gas pipeline. In the future, hydrogen can be distributed in the pipeline network to potential customers in Lower Saxony.

        Logo: © Nowega GmbH

        H2 Green Power & Logistics GmbH is located in Münster and deals with the purchase, import and distribution of hydrogen.

        Logo: © H2 Green Power & Logistics GmbH

        ©Salzgitter AG - Logo

        Uniper is an international energy group with around 12,000 employees whose hydrogen activities are spread across the entire value chain.

        Logo: © Uniper SE

        The energy supplier ENERTRAG employs 540 people across Europe and has been producing green hydrogen from wind energy since 2011.

        Logo: © ENERTRAG

        The steel and technology group Salzgitter AG has over 24,000 employees and wants to produce climate-friendly steel in the future with the help of hydrogen.

        Logo: © Salzgitter AG

        Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE) is a European transmission system operator with a pipeline network of approximately 12,000 km.

        Logo: © Open Grid Europe GmbH

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          AquaDuctus

          AquaDuctus

          von | Feb. 15, 2024 | Allgemein, News, Transport, Wasserstoffherstellung

          PROJECTS

          ©MUSource: Gascade, Fluxys

          AquaDuctus: Hydrogen pipeline supplies Germany with green hydrogen from the North Sea

          As part of the AquaVentus project, around 10 gigawatts of electrolysis capacity for hydrogen from offshore wind power is to be built between Helgoland and Doggerbank. This can produce around one million tons of green hydrogen per year - which, however, has to be transported to the consumption centers on the mainland. This is exactly what the AquaDuctus sub-project aims to make possible. A pipeline more than 400 kilometers long is to be built for this purpose, which will ultimately contribute to the decarbonization of energy demand in Germany and Europe.

          News (07.01.2025): Land Niedersachsen fördert das Projekt mit 60 Millionen Euro!

          In Summe sollen 200 Millionen Euro Fördergelder zur Verfügung stehen. 60 Millionen kommen vom Land, 140 Millionen Euro gibt der Bund dazu. Mehr erfahren

          News (15.02.2024): IPCEI projects: European Commission approves funding

          As the European Commission announced, the third IPCEI round under the title "Hy2Infra" has now been approved. This allows the member states to provide public funding of up to 6.9 billion euros. In the current round, 32 companies are involved in 33 projects - including the AquaDuctus project. Learn more

          The amount of renewable energy that can be generated offshore using wind energy is immense. In the case of the AquaVentus project, wind energy from the North Sea is to be used. However, as some of the energy produced offshore has to be transported over several hundred kilometers, the question arose as to the most efficient way of transporting the environmentally friendly energy. In the case of the AquaVentus project, the distance between the production sites in the North Sea (between Helgoland and Doggerbank) and the mainland is more than 400 kilometers. From an economic perspective, according to the study prepared for the project , it makes sense to use a hydrogen pipeline, as the transportation costs for consumers are significantly lower in comparison, while the natural environment is also protected and conventional grid expansion is not burdened by a large-scale offshore project.

          The AquaVentus project is planned to build an electrolysis capacity of around 10 gigawatts for hydrogen from offshore wind power. The planned Aqua-Ductus pipeline will be an "open access" hydrogen pipeline on a gigawatt scale - and would therefore be the first of its kind in European waters.

          The pipeline project will be implemented in two stages: In a first step, the connection of the SEN-1 hydrogen wind farm to the German mainland is planned by 2030 (around 200 kilometers of pipeline). In the second step, the connection of further hydrogen wind farms located on the outermost edge of Germany's exclusive economic zone is planned by 2035. The length of this pipeline (from the SEN-1 hydrogen wind farm) is to be around 220 kilometers, resulting in a total length of more than 400 kilometers. In addition, interconnection points for neighboring offshore hydrogen pipelines - e.g. with the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark or the Netherlands - are to be created in both sections of the project. AquaDuctus is therefore also set to become the starting point for an offshore hydrogen network in the European North Sea region.

          Source: Gascade, Fluxys

          The planned pipeline infrastructure as part of the AquaVentus project. The AquaDuctus project includes the pipelines marked in yellow. Image source: GASCADE, Fluxys

          The hydrogen pipeline is to land in Wilhelmshaven in Lower Saxony. The project will also make use of the emerging hydrogen infrastructure on the mainland and in Lower Saxony in particular. As a result, significant quantities of green hydrogen can not only be temporarily stored in the cavern storage facilities in Lower Saxony, but can also be transported onwards to the collection centers in the south.

          The first step towards this major project was a detailed feasibility study, which confirmed the technical feasibility and planning law viability of all phases of the project. Commercial aspects such as marketing potential and pricing were also analyzed.

          AquaDuctus has been pre-notified in the IPCEI procedure (Important Project of Common European Interest) and has also been submitted as a hydrogen project in the ongoing 6th PCI procedure, which is expected to be distributed at the end of the year.

          You can find out more about AquaDuctus here. You can find out more about the other sub-projects on the overall AquaVentus project page.

          Project partner

          The transmission system operator GASCADE Gastransport GmbH transports around 109 billion m³ of natural gas annually via its own 2,900 km long pipeline network. In future, the network will also be used to transport hydrogen.

          © GASCADE

            ©TU ClausthalSource: Fluxys

            Fluxys is a Belgian long-distance pipeline operator based in Belgium with around 1,300 employees. It currently transports natural gas in particular, but plans to enable hydrogen transportation in the future. 

            © Fluxys

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                Green Octopus Central Germany (GO!)

                Green Octopus Central Germany (GO!)

                von | Feb. 15, 2024 | Allgemein, News, Speicherung, Transport

                PROJECTS

                Source: ONTRAS

                Pipeline construction of ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH

                Green Octopus Central Germany (GO!)

                It is not without reason that the development of the German hydrogen economy is focused on the coastal region in northern Germany with its good import possibilities by sea, salt cavern storage facilities and a high supply of renewable energies. However, an extensive hydrogen infrastructure is also currently being built in eastern and central Germany with H2 transport networks and hydrogen storage facilities. The Green Octopus Central Germany "GO!" project by ONTRAS Gastransport and VNG Gasspeicher plays a key role in this and will, among other things, connect the Salzgitter steel region and the Helmstedt coalfield with the eastern German hydrogen network and the future hydrogen storage facility in Bad Lauchstädt. To this end, pipelines with a total length of around 305 kilometers will be converted or newly constructed for hydrogen transport.

                News (15.02.2024): IPCEI projects: European Commission approves funding

                As the European Commission announced, the third IPCEI round under the title "Hy2Infra" has now been approved. This allows the member states to provide public funding of up to 6.9 billion euros. In the current round, 32 companies are involved in 33 projects - including the Green Octopus Central Germany project. Learn more

                From 2027, the project initiators ONTRAS Gastransport and VNG Gasspeicher want to enable safe hydrogen transport between the Central German chemical triangle, the Halle-Leipzig metropolitan region, the Magdeburg region, and also the Salzgitter steel region. To this end, the GO! project will create a 305-kilometer pipeline network linking the eastern German hydrogen network to the west with the European Hydrogen Backbone. This will create an interconnection which will open up an important route to the east for the German and also the European hydrogen network.

                Although a large part of the planned network runs in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, the project is nevertheless also of great significance for Lower Saxony, as the Salzgitter / Hanover / Wolfsburg hub will also be accessed from the east by the pipeline. In addition, the pipeline network, together with access to further import points and the storage facilities in Saxony-Anhalt, offers greater security of supply for steel production in Salzgitter. A central component of the project is in fact the connection of a cavern storage facility in Bad Lauchstädt, which is to have a working gas volume of 50 million cubic meters.

                Source: ONTRAS

                The planned lines in the "Green Octopus Central Germany" project

                The development of the cavern storage facility will be carried out by VNG Gasspeicher - the construction and conversion of the pipeline network by ONTRAS Gastransport. To implement the project, ONTRAS is expressly relying on existing infrastructure: 190 kilometers of existing gas pipeline network will merely be converted for the transport of hydrogen. 115 kilometers will be newly added - 47 kilometers of which will be in Lower Saxony alone (between Salzgitter and Hötensleben).

                Due to its central importance for the European hydrogen network of the future (European Hydrogen Backbone), the GO! project was selected as an IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest) by the Federal Ministry of Economics in 2021.

                More about the project

                Project participants

                Source: ONTRAS

                ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH is a long-distance pipeline operator based in Leipzig. ONTRAS operates Germany's second-longest long-distance gas network with approx. 7,500 kilometers of pipeline and around 450 network interconnection points.

                  Source: VNG Gas Storage

                  VNG AG, headquartered in Leipzig, is a gas and gas infrastructure group with over 20 companies in Germany and Europe. VNG Gasspeicher is a wholly owned subsidiary of VNG AG and is engaged in the construction and operation of underground gas storage facilities.

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