Hydrogen plays a key role in the future of energy supply in Germany. In particular, the development of an efficient infrastructure that connects production centres with consumers is crucial. In order to drive forward the transformation from natural gas to hydrogen, six network operators have decided to form a strong partnership for northern Hesse and southern Lower Saxony: the two supra-regional transport network operators terranets bw GmbH and Thyssengas GmbH, whose pipelines will form part of the German hydrogen core network, and the regional network operators Städtische Werke Netz + Service GmbH and EAM GmbH & Co. KG from Kassel, Energie Waldeck-Frankenberg GmbH and Stadtwerke Göttingen AG, whose networks will supply industry, commerce and households with energy.
In order for the conversion of the energy grids to succeed - while at the same time supplying natural gas and hydrogen - very close coordination between supra-regional and regional grid operators is required in addition to a valid demand survey. The basis for planning the conversion of gas networks to the transport of hydrogen is the needs assessment. In the first Germany-wide, integrated market survey on the development of demand for electricity, natural gas and hydrogen in March 2024, energy suppliers in northern Hesse and southern Lower Saxony reported significant demand for hydrogen in the future.
Based on this, the grid operators are developing specific transformation planning. At the first joint meeting in Kassel, the partners focussed on the infrastructure in North Hesse and South Lower Saxony. "The materials of the gas pipelines are generally well suited for transporting hydrogen. Initial results of the integrity assessment confirm that our networks are well positioned for the start of hydrogen transport," explains Arvid Heidenwolf, contact person in network customer support at the transport network operator terranets bw GmbH. He is working on the development of the hydrogen perspective for northern Hesse.
"Close dialogue with the network operators in the region is particularly important in order to develop suitable transport routes." North Hesse is also to be connected via the Thyssengas GmbH transport system in future.
"With our transport pipelines, which are part of the hydrogen core network, we want to integrate the region into the rest of the Germany-wide hydrogen core network. In this way, we can give local industry the prospect of achieving its climate targets," explains Ansgar Taubitz, Head of Hydrogen Market Development at Thyssengas GmbH.
"In Kassel and northern Hesse, there are industrial and manufacturing companies with processes that require high temperatures and energy densities. We want to offer hydrogen-based solutions for these customers. The possibility of having hydrogen available in less than ten years strengthens Kassel and North Hesse as an industrial location," says Andreas Kreher, Technical Managing Director of Städtische Werke Netz + Service GmbH from Kassel.
"This cooperation potentially opens up new opportunities for EAM Netz GmbH to connect industrial and commercial customers previously supplied with natural gas to a hydrogen network in the coming years. This is a very positive scenario for the North Hesse region," explains Olaf Alm, Head of Networks at EAM Netz GmbH.
"This partnership is the starting signal for a successful and needs-based transformation of our gas network. Only then can we examine and offer a suitable, sustainable and reliable energy solution for each of our customers," explains Frank Benz, Managing Director of Energie Waldeck-Frankenberg GmbH, which currently supplies around 25,000 customers with gas in its area in northern Hesse as a distribution network operator.
Dr Gerd Rappenecker, Technical Director of Stadtwerke Göttingen AG, explains: "The connection of Göttingen to the hydrogen transport network represents an important, long-term perspective for our network customers and a fundamental location factor for trade, services and research."
In the coming months, the planning for the conversion of the networks from natural gas to hydrogen will be further concretised. The goal: the joint development of a valid network concept between the network operators that creates predictability for industry, households and commerce.
