German gas grid operators file plans for €20bn hydrogen network

German gas transmission operators have applied to the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) to create a hydrogen pipeline system by 2032. The proposed network will be 9,666 km long, with about 60% being converted from existing gas pipelines to save time, as building new ones can take 5-8 years. The total investment is expected to be 19.7 billion euros. The entry capacity is about 100 GW, and the exit capacity is 87 GW.

It is anticipated that by 2030, 50-70% of the hydrogen demand will be met through imports. Import points from neighboring countries like Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands are planned in northwestern Germany.

BNetzA noted that Germany aims to reduce its natural gas consumption and move towards climate neutrality by 2045. However, the remaining gas pipeline network must still meet the expected natural gas demand during this transition.