Development of the future German hydrogen network within the framework of the hydrogen variant of the Gas NDP 2022-2032.

• Invitation to further process participation until 31.01.2022
• Extension of the possibility to report pipeline network infrastructures until 18.03.2022
• Publication of the results of the call 05.10.2021

On October 5, 2021, the transmission system operators (TSOs) called on pipeline infrastructure operators to report existing and specifically planned pipeline systems for the transport of hydrogen for consideration in the hydrogen variant of the Gas Network Development Plan 2022-2032 and the Hydrogen Report pursuant to Section 28q EnWG.

As of October 29, TSOs have received 22 relevant notifications for modeling through 2032, including 8 new-build projects (about 50 km) and 14 notifications of lines that can be converted (about 320 km). There were 17 notifications from distribution system operators and 5 notifications from other infrastructure managers. The detailed results of this first call are available for download on the FNB Gas website.

With the call, the TSOs wanted to ensure that as many as possible of the transport requirements resulting from the WEB market query could be efficiently provided at an early stage. The feedback, together with the TSOs’ pipeline network components that can be converted to hydrogen, will form the basis for modeling the potential hydrogen network. Due to queries and additional expressions of interest from the market, the TSOs are extending their call for infrastructure notifications for consideration in the hydrogen variant of the Gas Network Development Plan 2022-2032 until March 18, 2022 (second call). Interested parties are asked to report their entries using this form.

Please send your completed form by the deadline to info@fnb-gas.de.

In addition, with this extended call, the TSOs invite current and potential hydrogen network operators to work together with the TSOs to develop a transparent process for the joint development of the future hydrogen network by mid-March 2022. Current and potential hydrogen network operators are invited to contact FNB Gas at info@fnb-gas.de by January 31, 2022.

Background:

In the consultation document of the scenario framework for the gas network development plan 2022-2032 of June 21, 2021, the TSOs stated that they intend – analogous to the network development plan 2020-2030 – to model a separate hydrogen variant in the gas network development plan 2022-2032. As part of the modeling, a potential hydrogen transport network for the time points 2027 and 2032 is determined based on concrete capacity reports. This will help identify existing gas grid pipelines that can be converted to transport hydrogen.

For this purpose, the hydrogen query Generation and Demand WEB was used to determine the specific capacity requirements for hydrogen in the market up to the year 2032. A total of 500 capacity demand reports have been received by TSOs. The hydrogen network modeling takes into account the projects for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been concluded with the TSOs by October 2021.

In the second step, the TSOs examine, firstly, which of the TSOs’ existing gas pipelines can be converted in order to determine an efficient hydrogen transport network. On the other hand, already existing hydrogen transport infrastructures as well as concretely planned conversions and network expansion projects for hydrogen of other infrastructure operators shall be considered in the modeling.