Leipzig-based company Ontras Gastransport has been given the green light to start construction of the first German and European hydrogen pipeline network.
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) has granted the necessary approvals for the early start of the projects ‘Doing Hydrogen’ and ‘Green Octopus Central Germany’ within the framework of the ‘IPCEI hydrogen’.
The projects will involve the conversion of existing natural gas pipelines into hydrogen pipelines, as well as the new construction of individual sections to connect Saxony to the Germany-and
Europe-wide hydrogen pipeline network, known as the ‘European Hydrogen Backbone’.
The hydrogen pipelines will run in Saxony in the Leipzig area.
The project will ensure the supply of hydrogen to industry in and around Leipzig as well as in the district of Meissen from 2027.
In total, Ontras Gastransport plans to construct approximately 900km of hydrogen pipelines in eastern Germany with the two projects.
Saxony’s energy minister, Wolfram Günther, says: ‘We are in the process of building a hydrogen economy along the entire value chain. This means climate protection, security of supply and sovereignty, and it strengthens Saxony as a business location. At the same time, an efficient infrastructure is needed to make hydrogen available where it is needed. I am very pleased that the federal government is now quickly giving the green light for this strategically important project. Now the infrastructure expansion for hydrogen is picking up speed.’
