EnBW announced on Tuesday its plan to invest 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) in Germany’s upcoming national hydrogen transport network.
This infrastructure, slated to commence commercial operations by 2032, aims to facilitate the distribution of newly produced and imported hydrogen.
Hydrogen is increasingly seen as a cleaner substitute for fossil fuels across various industrial and consumer applications.
Germany is strategically moving towards reducing its dependency on oil and natural gas, both of which contribute significantly to carbon emissions. This initiative underscores Germany’s efforts to foster the importation and domestic production of sustainable hydrogen as part of its broader energy transition goals.
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“The hydrogen core network is the entry point into the hydrogen economy of the future and, therefore, the prerequisite for the complete decarbonisation of the German economy and the achievement of climate goals,” said EnBW board member Dirk Guesewell.
“The core network is intended to optimally promote and accompany the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Germany and Europe,” FNB chairman Thomas Goessmann said.
Around 60% of the infrastructure projects will involve converting existing natural gas pipelines for use with hydrogen. Additionally, new hydrogen pipelines will be constructed, while some current gas pipelines will be taken out of service.
EnBW, along with its subsidiaries VNG (an eastern German gas distributor) and Terranes BW (an operator in Baden-Wuerttemberg), has submitted a joint application. This initiative aims to initially connect regional transport lines in eastern and southwestern Germany.
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Future plans include expanding connectivity beyond these regions as part of Germany’s broader hydrogen transport network.