Germany's EWE builds new hydrogen pipeline for Emden electrolyzer

Energy company EWE has begun construction on a new hydrogen pipeline in East Frisia, Germany, aimed at facilitating the transport of green hydrogen produced in Emden to inland consumption centers. The approximately 24-kilometer pipeline, dubbed 'H2Coastlink 1,' is being built by EWE Netz in collaboration with Gastransport Nord.

This project marks the first hydrogen pipeline in northwestern Germany. It is designed to carry up to 26,000 tons of hydrogen annually from EWE's new 320-megawatt electrolyzer facility in Emden. EWE's CFO, Frank Reiners, emphasized the need for robust transport infrastructure to reliably deliver green hydrogen to industrial customers, calling the pipeline a "crucial building block."

The hydrogen produced in Emden is intended for industrial use, with Salzgitter AG set to be a major off-taker. The companies signed a long-term agreement in early June for the annual delivery of 10,000 tons, with the green hydrogen slated for use in climate-friendlier steel production starting in 2030.

The pipeline, which has a diameter of about 40 centimeters, received approval from the Lower Saxony State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG) just days before construction began. It will traverse areas including the city of Emden and the municipalities of Ihlow, Moormerland, and Leer. The project is receiving funding from federal and state programs under the IPCEI Hydrogen initiative.