German company Gascade has completed the renovation of 400 kilometers of hydrogen pipelines in Germany

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Gascade has completed the renovation of 400 kilometers of hydrogen pipelines in Germany. Gascade-Gastransport has finished upgrading 400 kilometers of gas pipelines to enable the transport of hydrogen. 　　The German gas operator said it has completed the initial filling of the pipeline section that constitutes the \"north-south axis\" of the joint Flow project. It is reported that this pipeline starts from Lubmin and connects to Bobbau in Saxony-Anhalt. 　　Rostock is considered a potential major hydrogen import hub in Germany, while Lubmin will host large-scale electrolyzers. 　　The entire Flow project will consist of 1,630 kilometers of pipelines, connecting Rostock, Lublin, Schwedt, Berlin, Leipzig, Löbau, Erfurt, Port Ludwig, Karlsruhe, and Stuttgart. 　　The section connecting eastern and southwestern Germany is expected to be completed by 2029. 　　It will also become part of Germany’s 9,000-kilometer hydrogen backbone network, designed to connect all the major hydrogen production and consumption areas across Germany. 　　Earlier this year, Gascade began work on upgrading 400 kilometers of pipelines, addressing a range of technical issues including material compatibility problems, upgrading compressors and valves, as well as ensuring safety and monitoring standards to accommodate the existing infrastructure. 　　Gascade said that with the completion of the first phase of conversion, the infrastructure is now “available” for the market. It is not yet clear whether hydrogen has flowed through that pipeline. 　　A spokesperson for Gascade said in response to media inquiries, “We are in discussions with industry partners who wish to utilize hydrogen transportation capabilities.” In addition, we have also received a large number of grid connection requests from the market. There is high interest, as pipelines offer specific decarbonization options for the industry. ”　　Ulrich Benterbusch, Managing Director of Gascade, said: “Converting existing natural gas pipelines with a diameter of 1.4 meters to hydrogen is a technically groundbreaking achievement.” This project is a strong signal of Germany’s hydrogen economy and its aim to establish East German industry. ”　　German pipeline operators will start reserving capacity for hydrogen backbone networks from 2026, allowing hydrogen producers, users, and traders to obtain access points.