Infrastructure

In the Federal State of Lower Saxony, the AGil project has being launched to develop new business models for municipal utilities. The goal is to convert surplus electricity from renewable sources into hydrogen locally, thereby strengthening decentralized energy supply.

AquaVentus and Hydrogen Scotland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The aim is to jointly expand hydrogen production and transport in the North Sea region. A position paper outlines specific infrastructure potentials.

Hamburger Energienetze are preparing an existing natural gas pipeline beneath the Süderelbe for hydrogen transport. The so-called Kattwyk culvert is to become part of the hydrogen industrial network HH-WIN starting in 2027.

In the EU project SHIMMER, the German institute for materials research and testing BAM is working on a comprehensive knowledge database. There, important information on standards for safe materials and components as well as on the European gas infrastructure is to be made available. SHIMMER will be led by the Norwegian research organization SINTEF. The project brings together twelve European institutions, including national institutes and gas network operators from the countries Spain, Italy, Norway, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

In October 2024, the German Federal Network Agency approved the plans for the hydrogen core network. Hydrogen is expected to flow through some sections as early as 2025. Despite turbulent times, the network operators remain confident about the new infrastructure.

There is extensive demand for hydrogen in both municipalities and industry. In this environment, plans for implementing these market requirements are now becoming more concrete. The recent decision to set up an H₂ core network (see p. 18) is seen as the initial spark for this. In view of the supply situation, however, it is clear that the focus must increasingly be on the distribution network, which was also made clear at the DVGW Congress.

Hydrogenious LOHC has received official approval to build and operate what it claims to be the world's largest commercial hydrogen storage facility using the liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) benzyltoluene.

Transport iron to use hydrogen: The new H₂ storage technology of Ambartec AG conveys iron granulates and obtains the hydrogen on site through oxidation. In mid-February 2025, Ambartec, together with Purem by Eberspächer, signed a cooperation agreement (MOU) to prepare a serial production of this iron-nugget hydrogen storage and for its transport in standard 20-foot containers.

A successful ramp-up of the hydrogen market would be impossible without a means of hydrogen storage, and salt caverns are ideally suited to the task. These artificial cavities, more than 1,000 meters (3,200 feet) deep in salt rock, can be primarily found in northwestern Germany. While previously they have contained fossil fuels such as crude oil and natural gas, in the future they are set to hold hydrogen.