German municipal utility Stadtwerke Essen has entered into a partnership with local gas network operator Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE) to explore the future transportation of hydrogen to and within Essen, a major industrial city in western Germany.
The two companies have signed an agreement to assess how hydrogen can be delivered via Germany’s nationwide core network to local businesses and consumers. The collaboration will focus on evaluating future capacity needs, planning network connections, and the transformation process necessary to enable hydrogen flow throughout Stadtwerke Essen’s distribution network.
Thomas Huewener, CEO of OGE, emphasized the strategic importance of hydrogen supply to Essen, describing it as a key industrial hub in Germany. The supply of hydrogen to this region, he noted, is vital for both the local economy and consumers.
OGE, which already operates a pipeline network spanning 12,000 km across Germany, is also a participant in a larger project aimed at creating the country’s core hydrogen infrastructure. This 9,040 km network, largely built from repurposed natural gas pipelines, was approved by Germany’s Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) in October.
