Germany's Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has approved a core hydrogen network plan spanning approximately 9,040 km (5,617 miles), proposed by transmission system operators. This approved plan is about 600 km shorter than the initial draft proposal.
The core network is scheduled to be gradually operational by 2032, with the first hydrogen expected to flow in 2025. Approximately 60% of the planned network will consist of existing natural gas pipelines that will be converted to transport hydrogen, while the remaining 40% will be newly constructed.
The development of this hydrogen core network is considered a crucial step in supporting Germany's green hydrogen industry, with an estimated cost of EUR 18.9 billion (USD 20.4 billion), reduced from the earlier estimate of EUR 19.7 billion.
“With the approved hydrogen core network, the network operators can now gradually build and operate the infrastructure for hydrogen. The first lines will be converted from next year,” said Klaus Mueller, president of the Federal Network Agency.
This initiative represents the first phase in establishing a nationwide hydrogen infrastructure in Germany, connecting future hydrogen production sites with demand centers and facilitating the transport of around 278 TWh of hydrogen annually.
During a press conference, Economy Minister Robert Habeck emphasized that the final plan includes all Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) within Germany and considers connections with neighboring countries. Furthermore, to ensure a stable natural gas supply during the transition to hydrogen, Germany plans to construct additional pipelines, as more than half of the required hydrogen pipelines will be repurposed from existing natural gas infrastructure.
