A new hydrogen pipeline that connects northern North Rhine-Westphalia to Evonik’s Marl Chemical Park and the Gelsenkirchen refinery in Germany has been completed.
As part of the Get H2 initiative, the 50km green hydrogen pipeline is to begin operations in Germany, enabling green hydrogen to flow directly to Marl. It will then be used in chemical production and energy supply.
41km of a former natural gas pipeline has been converted to carry hydrogen. A new 3km section has been constructed across Evonik’s Marl site, linking it to a further 10km pipeline to the Gelsenkirchen-Scholven refinery.
Andreas Cieslik, head of the pipeline business at Evonik says: ‘In almost two years of intensive project work, we and our partners have successfully converted a natural gas pipeline for hydrogen operation and built new sections.’
At the Marl Chemical Park, Evonik is advancing R&D and innovation through a new green methanol facility that combines CO2 from the air with 200 tonnes of green hydrogen annually.
Additionally, the chemicals firm is working on a project which uses hydrogen and CO2 to produce speciality chemicals, a pilot plant for its Duraion membranes to support cost-effective AEM electrolysis, and an on-site hydrogen refuelling station.
The Gelsenkirchen refinery is currently owned by BP, although the oil and gas major put it up for sale last February.
Both plants will now be connected to Germany’s hydrogen core network. Gascade started filling hydrogen in the first section of its German pipeline network project last March, which runs through North Rhine-Westphalia.
