Germany: 10,000 km of hydrogen pipelines get lawmakers’ green light

The German Bundestag has approved construction of a key 9,700-km hydrogen network that will ensure hydrogen can be transported across Germany and connect its hydrogen infrastructure with that of neighbouring countries. Clean Energy Wire reported, citing the daily newspaper Der Spiegel.

German lawmakers approved an amendment to legislation that will enable construction of a key hydrogen network linking hydrogen production and import areas with centres of future demand. Construction is to be carried out in several phases, with completion planned between 2032 and 2037.

According to Clean Energy Wire, the new law will establish rules for financing the construction and operation of the planned hydrogen pipelines. This is to be funded entirely from private sources, with operators collecting the costs from customers.

"Hydrogen transport charges will be capped to prevent very high fees from limiting the development of the hydrogen market in the network's first years of operation," the Ministry of Economic Affairs said.

To ensure that the highly ambitious deadlines for building hydrogen infrastructure are met, Germany will introduce joint six-monthly planning for its hydrogen and gas networks, as many hydrogen pipelines will be created by converting existing gas pipelines.

Germany's hydrogen infrastructure is to form part of the so-called European Hydrogen Backbone, which is expected to include 28,000 km of dedicated hydrogen infrastructure by 2030. Expansion to as much as 53,000 km is planned by 2040. Around 60% of the hydrogen pipelines are expected to be converted from existing gas pipelines, while the remaining 40% will be newly built.