Hydrogen for Thuringia – Grid Operators Present Current Status

The network operators GASCADE Gastransport, Ferngas, and Thüringer Energienetze (TEN) presented the current status of the conversion of the Thuringian energy network to hydrogen at a second hydrogen conference. As early as March 2024, the network operators had concluded a framework agreement on this.

The agreement provides for close coordination between the companies as a basis for planning and determining how parts of the network infrastructure can be converted from natural gas to hydrogen. In addition to repurposing existing pipelines, this will in some cases also require the construction of new network structures. The cooperation covers the transmission network level (Ferngas, GASCADE) as well as the distribution network level (Ferngas, TEN).

As part of the implementation of Germany’s nationwide hydrogen core network, GASCADE has already filled around 200 km of existing pipelines in northeastern Germany with hydrogen. Within Thuringia, the partners have now closely coordinated the first network interconnections and connections between their gas network projects, with some having already entered the planning phase.

For example, two hydrogen core network projects operated by Ferngas and GASCADE will be interconnected near Jena. Ferngas and TEN are also planning additional network coupling points from the future hydrogen core network into the downstream distribution network level. In Marolterode in northern Thuringia, for instance, an underground storage facility operated by Thüringer Energie Speichergesellschaft—planned to run on hydrogen in the future—is to be connected to the hydrogen core network. This project and others like it will help ensure that not only supraregional transport routes are created, but also a regional hydrogen infrastructure.

With the continuation of the “Hydrogen for Thuringia” event series, the partners aim to underline that Thuringia is well positioned in terms of hydrogen infrastructure. The partners’ planning is guided by the needs of potential hydrogen customers. To properly and efficiently design and implement the infrastructure, the network operators require early and reliable information from potential hydrogen customers and producers.

Energy Minister Tilo Kummer emphasized the importance of a functioning hydrogen infrastructure at the conference. Thuringia, he said, is well on its way to supplying hydrogen to key stakeholders. Strong partners have joined forces here to ensure well-functioning networks. If we want to use the energy mix flexibly with renewable energies, we need not only hydrogen storage facilities but also hydrogen distribution networks that ensure supply to end customers. Since the refinancing of the hydrogen core network is being addressed at the federal level, suitable framework conditions for refinancing will also be needed for the development of a distribution network, he added.