Czech underground gas pipelines can handle hydrogen. How the network is preparing for the fuel of the future

NET4GAS has been preparing to convert part of its transmission system to hydrogen since 2021, when it launched its H2 Readiness programme. According to the company, material tests have shown that the underground sections of pipelines are suitable for pure hydrogen, with modifications needed primarily to above-ground technology. The first project, the Czech Hydrogen Backbone Infrastructure WEST, is due to enter operation in 2030, followed by NORTH in 2032. Both were re-added to the EU list of projects of common interest at the end of April 2026. We spoke with Lenka Krausová, who leads the H2 Readiness programme at NET4GAS, about what is currently being tested and what obstacles remain.

What specific steps is NET4GAS currently taking to ensure that the Czech gas system is ready for the ongoing transformation of Europe's energy landscape? Gas is often emphasised as the main fuel for the transition period, while hydrogen, which will probably one day use the same infrastructure, is seen as the fuel of the future.

NET4GAS has been preparing for the transformation of European energy for a long time and in a systematic manner. For us and for the Czech Republic, this is an opportunity to become part of an emerging market and of the backbone European hydrogen system. In 2021, we launched the key H2 Readiness programme focused on the hydrogen future, as we expect that existing gas infrastructure can also be used to transport hydrogen. The programme includes extensive studies and research in cooperation with leading Czech universities, technical institutions and foreign partners. We are carrying out material testing to verify the suitability of existing technology for hydrogen transport, and working with engineering and specialist consultancies on the design of technical modifications.

The results of activities to date show that the existing infrastructure will be suitable for transporting pure hydrogen, with only partial modifications required, particularly to above-ground sections. The transformation will take place gradually, so that safe and reliable natural gas supply remains assured at all times.

Natural gas remains a key fuel for the transition period, particularly in connection with the phase-out of coal. We see growing interest in its use, for example in the power and district heating sectors, which will require not only the connection of new customers but also increased capacity towards distribution systems. Our goal is to ensure that the Czech gas system is ready not only for current needs, but also for the future role of natural gas and hydrogen in the energy sector.

Which parts of the network or specific sections do you consider technically most suitable for the first hydrogen pilot projects?

As the first projects, we are preparing two key routes within the Czech Hydrogen Backbone Infrastructure – WEST and NORTH. These projects will enable bidirectional transport of high-purity hydrogen from four different areas with high production potential and ensure supplies to Central Europe and beyond. Once completed, our infrastructure will be able to transport hydrogen both from Ukraine, the Balkans and North Africa to Czechia and then to Western Europe, and in the opposite direction from the Baltic and North Sea region, through Germany and the Czech Republic to Slovakia and other countries in the region.

Preparatory work is in full swing, material tests have been completed, and this year we will submit an application for project approval for the first of the projects. We plan to commission the Czech Hydrogen Backbone Infrastructure WEST project in 2030, followed by NORTH in 2032.

How extensive are the modifications required for hydrogen transport in terms of pipeline materials, compressor stations or metering technology?

These are not extensive modifications. Based on verification and independent testing, the underground sections of the pipelines are suitable for hydrogen transport. The modifications will primarily concern above-ground technology – valves, metering and control equipment, and paved areas at the sites. Hydrogen compression is not envisaged in the Czech Hydrogen Backbone Infrastructure WEST and NORTH projects, so this technology will not be affected by the switch to hydrogen.

A major sub-project we are working on is preparing the Lanžhot border transfer station for hydrogen transport, including a complete metering system. We completed a feasibility study last year.

Could you outline some of the projects or studies that NET4GAS is currently undertaking to prepare infrastructure – whether to ensure safe gas transport or for the future switch to hydrogen?

We are currently undertaking a number of projects and studies intended to ensure the safe transport of natural gas or prepare infrastructure for future hydrogen use. For example, last year we completed construction of measures enabling natural gas to be transported from Poland to the Czech Republic through the Cieszyn border point in the event of an emergency.

The already mentioned Czech Hydrogen Backbone Infrastructure WEST and NORTH projects are included on the European list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI, Projects of Common Interest), and the WEST project received grant support from the CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) programme for biological assessment and preparation of documentation for project approval. We have completed the basic design for both projects, as well as the documentation for project approval in the case of the WEST project.

Do you also cooperate in this area with research institutions, universities or European partners? How does such cooperation work in practice?

Yes, we cooperate with both Czech universities and European research institutions. In Czechia, these include the Technical University of Liberec, the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, and VSB – Technical University of Ostrava; abroad, they include the renowned German institute Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and TÜV Rheinland. The cooperation is highly beneficial for both sides – it provides us with the latest scientific knowledge while linking the research sphere with the energy sector.

These activities include joint studies, material testing and technical calculations that verify the potential for transporting hydrogen through existing infrastructure.

Our representatives also participate, either directly or through the Czech Gas Association, in the work of a number of international specialist institutions and groups dealing with hydrogen deployment, including CEN, IGU, Marcogaz, HyTEP, H2GAR and ENNOH. Within established working groups, we also engage in active cooperation with other transmission system operators in Europe and help shape the conditions for future hydrogen transport.

Are any specific technologies already being tested today, such as blending hydrogen into natural gas or new types of valves and seals?

Yes, we are already actively testing the technologies and individual components needed for safe and reliable hydrogen transport. NET4GAS's main tool is the Apollo project – our own testing facility that simulates the operating conditions of future hydrogen pipelines. Following the successful completion of the first phase, Apollo 1, which verified the tightness and reliability of basic components including flange connections and seals, the more extensive Apollo 2 phase took place last year. It focused on testing gate valves and ball valves. In 2026, as part of the third Apollo run, we prepared a test assembly for inserting and removing a cleaning pig, which is an integral part of maintaining both gas pipelines and future hydrogen pipelines.

These tests allow us to assess the behaviour of individual components, select suitable components for hydrogen pipelines and establish the correct maintenance procedures. In addition to the Apollo project, we are cooperating with external partners, including the German Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft institute, on testing seals and specialised lubricants. We are also assessing innovative technologies, such as detection tapes for threaded connections that change colour when hydrogen leaks, making them one of the basic safety features for the future operation of the hydrogen system.

NET4GAS is involved in several European hydrogen initiatives. Could you outline which specific corridors or projects concern the Czech Republic and what role it plays in them?

Thanks to its location in the heart of Europe, the Czech Republic has the potential to become a crossroads of the European network of hydrogen corridors. NET4GAS is therefore actively involved in preparing four international routes: the Czech-German Hydrogen Interconnector (CGHI), the Central European Hydrogen Corridor (CEHC), the South East European Hydrogen Corridor (SEEHyC) and the SunsHyne corridor. These projects will connect hydrogen production areas with consumption centres across Europe.

NET4GAS has played an active role in these initiatives since 2021 – together with partners, we have prepared feasibility studies, are developing preparatory work, discussing possible transport scenarios, and are in contact with producers and potential hydrogen customers to ensure that future infrastructure meets their needs.

How important is alignment of technical standards and legislation between individual countries to the success of these projects?

It is certainly very important. In principle, the existing gas standards and technical regulations developed for natural gas are gradually being supplemented and clarified to include hydrogen and ensure comparable safety and reliability of transport. Attention must also be paid to the conditions under which pipelines originally built for natural gas can be operated with hydrogen. These activities take place on platforms such as CEN – the European Committee for Standardization – and ASME – the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. These two institutions coordinate a number of technical issues and approaches to addressing them.

The German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) is also a significant contributor to progress in preparing the legislative and technical basis. It is making considerable efforts to supplement technical regulations, including by conducting extensive testing and research work, while also contributing to the preparation of CEN standards. We therefore closely monitor developments in Germany, as we expect that their results will gradually be incorporated into the EN series of standards and will thus be similarly applicable in our environment as ČSN EN standards.

What are the biggest technical or organisational challenges you are currently addressing in connection with hydrogen?

The main areas, in addition to the previously mentioned technical standardisation, are establishing the overall legislative, regulatory and commercial framework for the hydrogen market. At European level, initiatives are emerging that are preparing proposals for future regulation and business models, so that infrastructure is not only technically ready but also economically sustainable. One example is the establishment of ENNOH (European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen), which brings together operators of future hydrogen transmission systems and in which NET4GAS is an active participant.

We are also a member of the Czech-German intergovernmental working group on hydrogen corridors. Alongside the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the partner Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), it also includes our partner operators from Germany (OGE, GASCADE, NaTran Deutschland) and the energy regulatory authorities of both countries. Together, we are working to align technical, legislative and market requirements so that future hydrogen infrastructure is functional and competitive.

Looking ahead several years, which technological changes or innovations do you believe will transform the operation of the transmission system the most?

In the coming years, we expect the gradual introduction of technological and operational innovations related to reducing methane emissions and preparing for hydrogen transport. Under the H2 Readiness programme, our experts have prepared, for example, a so-called safety top ten, which serves as a framework for new procedures for operating and maintaining hydrogen pipelines. Hydrogen, for instance, burns with an invisible flame, requiring the use of thermal imaging cameras. Before maintenance work, the hydrogen pipeline will first need to be inerted with nitrogen to prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere consisting of a hydrogen-air mixture.

Another innovation will be the use of special flares (equipment designed for controlled gas combustion) or transfer compressors designed specifically for hydrogen. At the same time, work to reduce methane emissions will continue. Its results will affect operating procedures, safety standards and the technical equipment of transmission system operators, and we expect that most of them will also be usable for hydrogen.