The transmission system operators Gasunie and Thyssengas have presented concrete plans for a hydrogen pipeline between Wilhelmshaven and Wesseling near Cologne. As early as 2028, quantities of hydrogen produced in the coastal region of Wilhelmshaven or imported from Norway, among others, are to be transported directly to the consumption centres on the Rhine and Ruhr via the north-south connection. The efficient H2 corridor is made possible by repurposing existing transport pipelines of the project partners and building new sections. Due to the prominent importance of the infrastructure project, both Gasunie and Thyssengas have submitted PCI (Projects of Common Interest) applications to the European Commission for the two sub-sections.The great benefit of the transport route is that it connects existing hydrogen clusters and projects. In the north it connects to the hydrogen network Hyperlink planned by Gasunie, in the south to the subprojects of the hydrogen initiative GETH2 for which Thyssengas is responsible. In addition, in conjunction with other planned pipeline projects, the important consumption centres from Münsterland via the Ruhr area to the Rhineland can be supplied with hydrogen. The planned North-South corridor will thus make a significant contribution to the establishment of an integrated hydrogen network in Germany and to the hydrogen market ramp-up in Europe.The report is divided into two sections:The northern part consists of the Wilhelmshaven-Hyperlink-Connection section, for which Gasunie has submitted a PCI application. "This sub-project has great potential for the future hydrogen economy by connecting the Energy Hub Wilhelmshaven and the planned hydrogen export pipeline from Norway to Germany with our hyperlink hydrogen transport network and the hydrogen caverns of the Etzel storage facility. The connection with Hyperlink brings the following advantages for hydrogen feeders in Wilhelmshaven: On the one hand, this is the direct connection to Gasunie's Dutch hydrogen network HyNetwork Services and to Energinet's Danish hydrogen backbone. On the other hand, the direct connection to the hydrogen network in the Salzgitter area, which enables hydrogen transport to Berlin.For the southern section of the project between Barßel and Cologne & Wesseling, the transmission system operator Thyssengas has submitted a PCI application to the EU and will advance the subproject in cooperation with Gasunie. Through consistent integration with other H2 pipeline projects, the consumption centers in North Rhine-Westphalia can be connected to the north-south corridor for hydrogen – from Münsterland via the Ruhr area to the chemical region of Cologne. For this purpose, connections to the GETH2 hydrogen cluster, to future hydrogen storage facilities and to the border crossing point for hydrogen in Vlieghuis (Netherlands) are planned.
The transmission system operators Gasunie and Thyssengas have presented concrete plans for a hydrogen pipeline between Wilhelmshaven and Wesseling near Cologne. As early as 2028, quantities of hydrogen produced in the coastal region of Wilhelmshaven or imported from Norway, among others, are to be transported directly to the consumption centres on the Rhine and Ruhr via the north-south connection. The efficient H2 corridor is made possible by repurposing existing transport pipelines of the project partners and building new sections. Due to the prominent importance of the infrastructure project, both Gasunie and Thyssengas have submitted PCI (Projects of Common Interest) applications to the European Commission for the two sub-sections.The great benefit of the transport route is that it connects existing hydrogen clusters and projects. In the north it connects to the hydrogen network Hyperlink planned by Gasunie, in the south to the subprojects of the hydrogen initiative GETH2 for which Thyssengas is responsible. In addition, in conjunction with other planned pipeline projects, the important consumption centres from Münsterland via the Ruhr area to the Rhineland can be supplied with hydrogen. The planned North-South corridor will thus make a significant contribution to the establishment of an integrated hydrogen network in Germany and to the hydrogen market ramp-up in Europe.The report is divided into two sections:The northern part consists of the Wilhelmshaven-Hyperlink-Connection section, for which Gasunie has submitted a PCI application. "This sub-project has great potential for the future hydrogen economy by connecting the Energy Hub Wilhelmshaven and the planned hydrogen export pipeline from Norway to Germany with our hyperlink hydrogen transport network and the hydrogen caverns of the Etzel storage facility. The connection with Hyperlink brings the following advantages for hydrogen feeders in Wilhelmshaven: On the one hand, this is the direct connection to Gasunie's Dutch hydrogen network HyNetwork Services and to Energinet's Danish hydrogen backbone. On the other hand, the direct connection to the hydrogen network in the Salzgitter area, which enables hydrogen transport to Berlin.For the southern section of the project between Barßel and Cologne & Wesseling, the transmission system operator Thyssengas has submitted a PCI application to the EU and will advance the subproject in cooperation with Gasunie. Through consistent integration with other H2 pipeline projects, the consumption centers in North Rhine-Westphalia can be connected to the north-south corridor for hydrogen – from Münsterland via the Ruhr area to the chemical region of Cologne. For this purpose, connections to the GETH2 hydrogen cluster, to future hydrogen storage facilities and to the border crossing point for hydrogen in Vlieghuis (Netherlands) are planned.
