Hydrogen – energy medium of the future
We want to bring our assets into the future by operating successfully in our core business and actively supporting the transformation of the energy sector, in particular where hydrogen is concerned.
Thyssengas is convinced that hydrogen will make an essential contribution as an energy medium of the transition. To this end, it is necessary to employ hydrogen broadly, in as many sectors as possible. Here, it makes sense, at least for a transitional period, to use both green and other “colours” of hydrogen along the H2 spectrum.
Industry’s hopes depend on hydrogen to lead them towards a carbon-neutral world. Because hydrogen can be manufactured environmentally and, when combusted, does not release CO₂.
For transportation, it requires a comprehensive, efficient, secure infrastructure, helping fuel get where it is needed.
The current transportation capacity for gas in Europe is ten times that of the existing electrical grids. We want to make our network hydrogen-compatible and thus enable the deeper integration of renewables in future energy infrastructure and intelligent sector coupling.
Thyssengas brings with it decades of experience in the transport of diverse gaseous energy media, excellent relationships with customers and a proven track record in occupational and plant safety. We invested early in the digitalisation of our network. Now, through numerous initiatives, including many at local level, we are able to perceive the demands the future hydrogen network will make of us as a network operator.
Storage facilities of the energy transition
Wouldn’t it be nice if … excess electricity from wind and solar power could be stored, and if we already had storage of this kind?
Here at Thyssengas, we are convinced that our transmission system can take on exactly this function: it is around 4,400 kilometres long, deeply integrated into West Germany, lies in the direct vicinity of numerous wind and solar parks and is ready to transport green gases without much adaptation required.
Electrolysis makes the “power to gas” transformation possible. This means: water is split into oxygen (O₂) and hydrogen (H₂). The hydrogen created in this way by green energy can be further processed into synthetic methane and fed into the grid. The gas network then becomes the backbone of the energy transition, by providing urgently necessary storage capacity and absorbing peak loads.
In its 100 years of eventful company history, Thyssengas has always been a pioneer. We transported various gases through our network and implemented numerous technical innovations.
In the energy transition, our pioneering spirit is more in demand than ever. Because only if we consider electricity, heating, transport and industry as an interconnected system, coupling them together intelligently, can we achieve the breakthrough of a decarbonised energy industry. That is why we are exploring new technologies, setting up cooperative projects and developing the competences of our team.
Multitalented hydrogen
Climate-friendly hydrogen – that is produced carbon-neutrally using green electricity and water by means of power-to-gas technology or electrolysis – is the multi-tool of the energy transition.
In pure form, renewable hydrogen will easily be able to replace the hydrogen currently used in industrial processes, which today is still not CO₂-neutral.
It is available to the automotive sector in connection with fuel cell technology for alternative drive concepts and will thus allow the rapid substitution of fossil fuels – initially in the heavy cargo field. In addition, hydrogen can be used to create green petrol and diesel fuels for use in today’s combustion engines.
In the heating market too, CO₂ reduction can be driven forward with climate-friendly hydrogen.
Millions of households are getting connected to gas supplies that contain an ever-growing proportion of climate-friendly hydrogen, in addition to standard natural gas. In this way, decarbonisation alternatives for the heating sector are being created in a field where essentially the only options currently available to home owners are capital-intensive insulation solutions.
