Hydrogen plays an important role in the energy transition. It can be stored and transported. This allows renewable energies to be used for new fields of application in industry and the transport sector, significantly reducing CO2 emissions. 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 was recently published in our egeNews.
Mr. Heunemann, with the GET H2 Nukleus project, there is a concrete plan to establish a first publicly accessible hydrogen network. What is the motivation for a transmission system operator like Nowega to become so heavily involved?
Frank Heunemann: Hydrogen offers the possibility of bringing renewable energies into new fields of application, such as industrial processes, and significantly reducing CO2 emissions here in the short term. It can be stored and, above all, transported efficiently. As a transmission system operator, we have extensive experience with the transport of natural gas and can also build a hydrogen transport network. Without a reliable, non-discriminatory network for the transport of hydrogen, no hydrogen economy will be able to emerge 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.
In your view, how much new transmission network will need to be built, or can German transmission system operators convert existing natural gas pipelines?
Frank Heunemann: Particularly in the transmission network, existing pipelines can be converted from natural gas to hydrogen. To this end, the transmission system operators have a plan (see graphic) for the development of a visionary hydrogen transport network (green) in Germany. For this 5,900 km long network, only a small proportion of the pipelines would need to be newly built. A first part of this network has already been further specified with the green gas variant of the NDP Gas for the time horizon up to 2030 (blue). Converting the pipelines is not only more cost-effective and faster than new construction, but also increases acceptance of the energy transition by significantly reducing structural interventions.
So far, the hydrogen requirements of refineries and steelworks have been the primary focus. Mr. Lotze, how do 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 also applies to pure hydrogen. The pipeline materials used in the distribution network (low-alloy steels, PE 80 / 100, PVC) generally have the appropriate material compatibility. An assessment of existing unknown components, such as valves, regarding materials/function for the specific use of hydrogen must be carried out if no analogy can be drawn to already assessed components. The DVGW rules applicable to the gas industry are currently being adapted with regard to the feed-in of 20% hydrogen by volume and for pure hydrogen. For new distribution networks with 100% hydrogen, pipes with an additional permeation barrier should also be used to prevent or limit hydrogen permeation.
What opportunities do you see for new distribution networks with 100% hydrogen? Surely there are 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 a pure hydrogen distribution network depends on consumers on that 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 develop such commercial areas and see great potential for hydrogen in the transport sector. How will hydrogen first establish itself in transport?
Dr. Ludger Hellenthal: First, we see the requirements for hydrogen trucks, which need a hydrogen infrastructure, particularly in predictable 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 increase significantly step by step.
Will it then be exclusively green hydrogen in the transport sector? In other words, hydrogen from renewable energies?
Dr. Ludger Hellenthal: In some industrial sectors, demand will presumably be so great that hydrogen of “other colors” can/should also be used as a transitional measure. We will then end up “in green hydrogen.” In the field of mobility, green hydrogen should be used directly to achieve maximum CO2 reduction and also to drive with lower emissions in city centers. Ultimately, this is about switching the entire transport sector to renewable energies. Trains are already hydrogen-based, and Airbus also wants to develop its aircraft towards hydrogen propulsion systems. The development of the other sectors for industry, refineries, and also prospectively household uses from 2025/2030 onwards will then be exciting.
