Natural gas
Natural gas is part of
of our DNA.
Thyssengas built the first long-distance gas pipeline in Germany and thus supported the industrial development of our region. In the coming years, natural gas will likewise remain an important energy carrier for the security of supply. At the same time, we will be developing the hydrogen transport network and, increasingly, feeding biomethane into our grid. This is particularly true in view of the fact that natural gas plays an important role in ensuring security of supply in the energy market in general, but also in the electricity sector in particular. Specifically, the phase-out of coal-fired power plants (coal phase-out) means that new secured gas-fired power plant capacity of at least 10 GW must be added, which will also be H2-ready.
Natural gas continues to make an important contribution to the security of supply and system stability.
Dispatchable gas-fired power plants are able to balance out the fluctuating generation of electricity from wind and solar energy. Although, the increasing availability of hydrogen and biomethane means that the proportion of fossil natural gas will gradually decrease. This is because electricity generated from renewable sources can only realise its advantages if it is available regardless of weather conditions. An efficient storage and control element is essential for a needs-based and secure supply at all times. In addition, electricity only covers part of the energy requirement. Gas supplies the significantly larger proportion of the total primary energy requirement.
The path to an age of green gases.
These days, natural gas makes a significant contribution to the security of supply and system stability. At the same time, the demands on the energy supply are changing: it must be secure, resilient to crises, and increasingly climate-friendly. For us, one thing is clear: we are actively shaping this transformation. To do this, we are using what we already have, making it better and expanding it. We are confident that our pipeline grid in western Germany, which is around 4,400 kilometres long, offers good conditions for transporting hydrogen. To this end, we are gradually converting existing pipelines and expanding our grid there where it is necessary. In order to actively shape the transformation to hydrogen transport, we are constantly talking to our customers and supporting them with their ideas and projects. In doing so, we focus on the needs of industry, municipal utilities, power plants, and regions. We understand local needs, aggregate demand, and use this information to develop viable transportation and infrastructure strategies.
In the distribution network sector, the requirements for municipal heat planning give rise to very specific information needs, which Thyssengas fulfils in a needs-based and customer-oriented manner. We discuss these and other topics with our customers in our energy transition workshops and are also in constant dialogue with them individually.
We are making a tangible contribution to the energy transformation through the development of the hydrogen network, the additional feed-in capacities for biomethane and the measures to cut our own emissions.