GTG Nord hydrogen grid

Hydrogen has a wide range of applications. All sectors and different areas of the economy can benefit from climate-friendly hydrogen as an energy source or raw material. The main areas of application are:

Industry

The industrial sector is the most important area of application for hydrogen and offers the greatest emission savings. In large industries, such as steel production, glass production or the manufacture of ammonia, which are important for Germany, coal or natural gas cannot be economically replaced by electricity. Green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels here and significantly reduce CO₂ emissions.

Reconversion to electricity

Renewable energy sources are subject to fluctuations. Depending on how the wind blows and the sun shines, more electricity is generated than can be utilised. At other times, however, too little electricity is available. Surplus electricity can be converted into hydrogen using electrolysis and can be stored afterwards. If more electricity is needed, the hydrogen can be used to generate electricity in gas-fired power plants.

Further

Hydrogen can also be used in mobility (e.g. in trucks or trains with fuel cells) and in the heating market (e.g. in hydrogen heating systems).

The development of the German wide hydrogen network is being organised in a joint planning process by the transmission system operators in Germany on a private-sector basis. You can register your individual requirements using our dedicated form. This enables us to include your enquiry in our supply planning.

You can use our form to describe your project and grid connection request to us. Please complete our form using the button below (german).

Formular Netzanschluss

When calculating the price, a distinction must be made between grey hydrogen from fossil energy sources and green, climate-neutral hydrogen. While grey hydrogen has been widely used for a long time and is easy to price, there is currently no calculation for the price of green hydrogen. One clear thing is that, as with natural gas, the transport network charges will only account for a very small proportion of the costs. A basic overview of the calculation of fees for network operators in the context of regulation can be found in Section 28o EnWG and the ‘Ordinance on Costs and Fees for Access to Hydrogen Networks’. The German government will provide financial support for the development of the hydrogen core network in order to prevent high charges for customers.

In order to create comprehensible and transparent standards for green hydrogen, a certification system is being developed at European level. The basis for this is currently the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). Both green hydrogen produced in Germany and imported green hydrogen must fulfil the same criteria.

The existing natural gas pipelines can be substantially converted to the transport of hydrogen. The condition of the pipelines intended for this purpose will be checked in advance. The transport of hydrogen will then be just as safe as the transport of natural gas today.

The conversion of existing pipelines offers important advantages: In comparatively little time and with little local impact due to construction work, a Germany wide network will be created to link the hydrogen consumers with the production and import points. Transporting hydrogen via pipelines is the most efficient and cheapest option.

In addition, an option for the further utilisation of the existing natural gas infrastructure will be created.

Yes. Hydrogen has been produced, transported and used in private networks in Germany for a long time. The pipelines used to transport hydrogen are monitored around the clock by a control centre. As hydrogen mixes very quickly with the surrounding air outside the pipes, there is basically no danger even in the very unlikely event of a leak. If a leakage leads to a drop in pressure in the network, this is registered immediately and the gas flow in the corresponding pipe section is stopped.

This synchronised mode of operation means that the hydrogen network is just as safe as the natural gas network.

So called grey hydrogen is produced from natural gas. This releases ten tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of hydrogen. If it is replaced by green hydrogen, this CO₂ emission can be avoided. The planned electrolysis plant in the Emden area, for example, produces up to 24.000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year with its electrical output of 320 MW and 3.750 full-load hours. This corresponds to 240.000 tonnes of CO₂ saved.

Yes. The conversion of the network to hydrogen will not take place overnight, but will be carried out gradually and planned in detail. Only pipelines that are no longer needed for natural gas operations will be converted for hydrogen use. The infrastructure for natural gas in Germany has also been designed in a way that there are always several lines ready for operation along a route. This means that hydrogen and natural gas can be transported along the same route at the same time.