Hydrogen plays an important role in the energy transition. It can be stored and transported. This allows renewable energies to be used for new applications in industry and the transport sector, and CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced. A reliable network for the transport of hydrogen is essential. Frank Heunemann, Torsten Lotze and Dr. Ludger Hellenthal highlight opportunities and perspectives in the egeNews expert interview.
The article recently appeared in our egeNews.
Mr. Heunemann, with the GET H2 Nukleus project, there is a concrete project for the construction of an initial publicly accessible hydrogen network. What is the motivation of a transmission network operator like Nowega to be so heavily involved?
Frank Heunemann: Hydrogen offers the possibility of bringing renewable energies into new fields of application, such as industrial processes, and of significantly reducing CO2 emissions here in the short term. It can be stored and, above all, efficiently transported. As a transmission network operator, we have extensive experience in transporting natural gas and can also build a hydrogen transmission network. Without a reliable, non-discriminatory network for the transport of hydrogen, a hydrogen economy will not be able to develop in Germany and Europe. With our participation in the project, we are therefore taking on an important role in the implementation of the energy transition.
From your point of view, how much new transmission network will have to be built, or can the German transmission network operators convert existing natural gas pipelines?
Frank Heunemann: Existing natural gas pipelines can be converted to hydrogen, especially in the transmission network. For this purpose, the transmission network operators have a plan (see graphic) to build a visionary hydrogen transmission network (green) in Germany. For this 5,900 km long network, only a small part of the pipelines would have to be rebuilt. An initial part of this network has already been further concretized with the Grüngas variant of the NEP Gas for the time horizon up to 2030 (blue). The conversion of the pipelines is not only more cost-effective and faster than a new construction, but also increases the acceptance of the energy transition by significantly reducing structural interventions.
So far, the hydrogen demands of refineries and steelworks have been in the foreground. Mr. Lotze, how do the distribution network operators in Germany assess the situation? How and when does the distribution network come into play?
Torsten Lotze: The gas infrastructure of the distribution networks is largely suitable for transporting natural gas with 20% hydrogen; the same applies to pure hydrogen. The pipe materials used in the distribution network (low-alloy steels, PE 80 / 100, PVC) basically have the corresponding material compatibility. An assessment of existing unknown installations such as fittings for materials / function for the specific use of hydrogen must be carried out if no analogous conclusion to already assessed installations is possible. The DVGW rules applicable to the gas industry are currently being adapted with regard to the injection of 20 vol.% hydrogen and for pure hydrogen. For new distribution networks with 100% hydrogen, pipes with an additional permeation barrier should also be used in order to prevent or limit hydrogen permeation.
What opportunities do you see for new distribution networks with 100% hydrogen? There are certainly also many commercial enterprises that have an interest in using hydrogen instead of natural gas?
Torsten Lotze: How and where pure hydrogen networks are created depends very much on demand. Today, hydrogen is significantly more expensive than natural gas, so that a pure hydrogen distribution network depends on customers on this network who want to use pure hydrogen, such as hydrogen filling stations or commercial enterprises that want to switch completely to renewables and use hydrogen instead of natural gas.
Mr. Hellenthal, you are developing such commercial areas and see great potential for hydrogen in the transport sector. How will hydrogen first become established in transport?
Dr. Ludger Hellenthal: First, we see the need for hydrogen trucks, which require a hydrogen infrastructure, especially in calculable regional logistics and on European transport routes. Due to the CO2 tax and RED II requirements, the hydrogen market share and the necessary filling station infrastructure will gradually increase significantly.
Is it then exclusively green hydrogen in the transport sector? So hydrogen from renewable energies?
Dr. Ludger Hellenthal: In some industrial sectors, demand will probably be so great that hydrogen of “other colors” can / should also be used on a transitional basis. We then end up “in green hydrogen”. In the field of mobility, green hydrogen should be used directly in order to achieve the maximum CO2 reduction and also to drive with lower emissions in the inner cities. Ultimately, this is about converting the entire transport sector to renewable energies. Trains are already running on hydrogen and Airbus also wants to develop its aircraft towards hydrogen drives. The development of the other sectors for industry, refineries and also, from 2025/2030 onwards, household uses is also exciting.
