H2 pipeline Vlieghuis-Ochtrup

Ground-breaking ceremony in Hoogstede: Thyssengas begins realisation of the cross-border hydrogen pipeline between the Netherlands and Germany. From natural gas to hydrogen - the conversion of one of the first cross-border hydrogen pipelines between Vlieghuis in the Netherlands and Ochtrup in Münsterland starts in Hoogstede. Thyssengas celebrates the ground-breaking ceremony with representatives from politics, local authorities and business.

Ground-breaking ceremony for the Vlieghuis-Ochtrup H2 pipeline, from left to right: Reinhold Hilbers, Member of the State Parliament of Lower Saxony, Albert Stegemann, Member of the German Bundestag, Dr Thomas Becker, Commercial Director of Thyssengas GmbH, Frank Rathlev, Head of Operations at Thyssengas GmbH, Dennis Quardt, Project Manager for the Vlieghuis-Ochtrup H2 pipeline at Thyssengas GmbH, Ralf Hilmes, Head of Economic Development Department for the County of Bentheim

Germany is to become climate-neutral by 2045. For Thyssengas, one thing is certain: hydrogen and other green gases are key technologies on this path. In October 2024, the Federal Network Agency approved the hydrogen core network and thus officially gave the go-ahead for the development of a Germany-wide H2 infrastructure.

After intensive planning work, one of the pioneering projects for the future of energy is now being realised: By 2027, the approximately 53-kilometre-long natural gas pipeline system from Vlieghuis to Ochtrup is to be converted for hydrogen transport. The pipeline project will connect the emerging Germany-wide H2 network to the province of Zeeland and the important import ports of Amsterdam, Eemshaven and Rotterdam.

"The Germany-wide transport infrastructure for hydrogen is coming and as a transmission system operator, we at Thyssengas have a central responsibility to help build it," emphasises Dr Thomas Becker, Commercial Director of Thyssengas. "In the long term, we will bring hydrogen to where it is needed - to industry, power plants and distribution network operators. And not only for customers directly on the core network, but also in the neighbouring regions."

Ensuring security plays a decisive role in this. At the ground-breaking event, participants learnt about the multi-level security procedures and 24/7 monitoring that play a central role in the switch to hydrogen operation. The protection of the environment and nature is also of great importance. The participants were able to gain their first impressions of the construction site during a joint tour.

In a welcoming speech at the ground-breaking ceremony, Albert Stegemann, member of the Bundestag, emphasised: "I am delighted that here in Hoogstede we are not only talking about the distant goals of the energy transition, but are also putting them into practice. The connection to the hydrogen core network opens up great opportunities for our entire region: we have an ideal geographical location, the local infrastructure and companies that can benefit from it. The active involvement of our local construction companies is already creating initial added value - that's great."

As a transmission system operator, Thyssengas is actively involved in the energy transition in Germany. The Vlieghuis-Ochtrup conversion project is a pioneering project and a further step towards a climate-neutral energy supply.

About Thyssengas

Thyssengas GmbH is a German transmission system operator. The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021, is headquartered in Dortmund. Thyssengas operates a gas network around 4,400 kilometres long - mostly in North Rhine-Westphalia, but also with individual pipelines in Lower Saxony. It supplies downstream distribution network operators as well as industrial companies and power plants. Thyssengas is focussing on hydrogen as a gaseous energy source for a climate-neutral future. The Dortmund-based network operator is involved in numerous initiatives to this end. At the same time, it is making targeted investments in the conversion of its pipeline system to enable a rapid hydrogen ramp-up as part of the energy transition. The company currently employs around 550 people at seven locations in the grid area, and the number is growing.

Press release

Back