Czech Republic and Germany establish working group to coordinate hydrogen grid interconnection

A new working group will coordinate the project to interconnect the hydrogen gas transmission systems of the Czech Republic and Germany. The two countries established it to strengthen mutual cooperation in building shared hydrogen infrastructure. The group held its first meeting in Berlin this week. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) announced this today.

The establishment of the working group follows the two countries’ declaration on cooperation in hydrogen infrastructure, which the two ministries signed in April this year.

"Hydrogen can make a significant contribution to the energy transition and strengthen our energy security. Together with Germany, we want to build infrastructure that will connect our industries, strengthen regional self-sufficiency and enable the use of clean energy sources across Europe," said outgoing Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček (STAN).

The working group was established at the initiative of the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. In addition to their representatives, it also brings together representatives of gas system operators and energy regulators. They will address the project, legislative, regulatory and economic aspects of hydrogen transmission between the two countries.

"Hydrogen imports via Germany can make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of the Czech chemical industry and other segments. The planned interconnection of the Czech and German hydrogen grids represents an important step towards linking Europe’s main hydrogen corridors," said Tomáš Ehler, Director General of the Nuclear Energy and New Technologies Section.