To enable the transport of hydrogen between Norway and Germany, Gassco AS and GASCADE Gastransport GmbH have signed a letter of intent. This aims to transport hydrogen via pipelines in the North Sea. The signing took place on April 23 at the Hannover Messe. The cooperation between the two network operators is part of the strategic partnership between the Norwegian and German governments in the fields of climate, renewable energies, and green industry.
On the Norwegian side, Gassco is developing the transport infrastructure for exporting hydrogen produced in Norway to Germany. On the German side, GASCADE is developing the AquaDuctus offshore hydrogen pipeline in the North Sea, connecting neighboring offshore pipelines and establishing the downstream connection to Germany. The planned cooperation aims to ensure efficient and coherent planning of the projects. The companies aim to enable hydrogen transport between Norway and Germany from 2030 onwards.
“AquaDuctus will provide a new hydrogen transport infrastructure for the German part of the North Sea, enabling imports to Germany”, says Christoph von dem Bussche, Managing Director of GASCADE. “The cooperation with Gassco demonstrates the need for an openly accessible hydrogen infrastructure in the German North Sea to connect adjacent offshore infrastructure, which will be implemented with AquaDuctus. Our common goal is to align interfaces, achieve synergies, and develop joint opportunities between the projects to be able to accommodate hydrogen volumes from Norway from 2030 onwards”, he emphasizes. “This strengthens the supply side and provides an answer to the question of where the hydrogen needed for the energy transition should come from - in large quantities and at competitive conditions.”
Contribution to the Hydrogen Market Ramp-Up
AquaDuctus consists of an offshore pipeline through the German North Sea, landing in the Wilhelmshaven area, from where an onshore pipeline continues to Bunde at the German-Dutch border to ensure connection to the downstream hydrogen network. AquaDuctus will be able to connect neighboring offshore pipelines as well as green hydrogen production facilities (e.g., from offshore wind turbines) along its route. “By creating the necessary infrastructure for transport, we are contributing to the ramp-up of the hydrogen market”, explains Christoph von dem Bussche the goals of GASCADE. “AquaDuctus will become the German import route for offshore hydrogen via the North Sea corridor.”
AquaDuctus has received both European IPCEI and PCI status from the EU Commission. This confirms the European importance of the project and enables, among other things, state funding. GASCADE is awaiting formal confirmation from national authorities for early action commencement. AquaDuctus is also part of the draft for the German Hydrogen Backbone.
