(Berlin) - The NBB Netzgesellschaft Berlin-Brandenburg wants to upgrade the Berlin gas network for the transport of hydrogen. Natural gas, with a share of around 65 percent, is now the basis for the capital's heat supply, according to the company. Around half of the 360.000 buildings to be heated are connected to the gas network and are supplied directly with natural gas. In addition, 75 percent of the thermal power plants in the Berlin urban area used natural gas.
Presentation of the hydrogen plans (from left): Maik Wortmeier (NBB managing director), Franziska Giffey (Senator for Economic Affairs), Georg Friedrichs (Gasag board). © NBB Netzgesellschaft Berlin-Brandenburg mbH & Co. KG
However, a CO2-neutral supply is only possible “if heat, gas and electricity work together intelligently,” according to the NBB, part of the Berlin utility Gasag AG. Therefore, Vattenfallwärme Berlin AG, a subsidiary of the Swedish state energy company Vattenvall, is also involved, as is the operator of the 7.700 kilometer long-distance pipeline network in eastern Germany, Ontras Gastransport GmbH, based in Leipzig. The state of Berlin also supports the project.
Connection initially only for large customers
The conversion will take place in three phases: from the largest to the smallest network connections and from the transport to the distribution networks. First, a hydrogen “starting network” will be set up. To this end, NBB is converting the two most important routes - two high-pressure lines totaling 60 kilometers long - from natural gas to hydrogen: the Berlin West line coming from the south, which connects the thermal power plants in the Wilmersdorf and Charlottenburg districts, and the line in the north-east Berlin via the Marzahn district to Berlin Mitte.
Hydrogen transport network: The gray lines are the existing gas pipelines. Dark turquoise: H2 starting network Berlin (rezoning and new construction, phase 1). Light Turquoise: Starting Network Expansion (Phase 2). High-pressure lines will be connected to the Ontras network at the transfer stations in the southwest and northeast. © NBB
Initially, large consumers with a demand of more than 2030 megawatts will be served by 500 and the emerging German one Hydrogen network (hydrogen backbone). By setting up local hydrogen hubs along these two routes, around 50 percent of Berlin's current gas demand could be converted to hydrogen. Mainly existing lines would be used. On the one hand, this is cheaper and, on the other hand, it avoids the construction of new routes in the city, which in turn speeds up implementation.
Technical reports had already confirmed the hydrogen suitability of the transport management in eastern Berlin last year. A few necessary modifications are already underway. The western line will be examined this year.
Phase 2: Connection of smaller systems
The second phase includes the expansion of the urban backbone. First, connections from large customers with a demand of more than 30 megawatts, which are close to the two high-pressure pipelines, will be connected.
According to the plans, hydrogen and biogas will replace the natural gas currently used by 2045. © NBB Netzgesellschaft Berlin-Brandenburg mbH & Co. KG
To this end, a further 150 kilometers of pipelines will be upgraded. This makes it possible to connect energy systems for smaller heating and district concepts as well as industrial companies. Areas further away will be added later. In this phase, according to the NBB, 2035 percent of the amount of gas consumed in Berlin today could have been decarbonized by 60. In residential areas with highly efficient combined heat and power plants, hydrogen can also be used for decentralized electricity and heat supply.
Headquarters of the NBB Netzgesellschaft Berlin-Brandenburg. The company operates one of the largest local gas distribution networks in Berlin and Brandenburg as well as in parts of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. NBB belongs to the Berlin utility Gasag AG, which in turn is one-third owned by Vattenfall. The Eon Group and the French utility Engie hold the majority of Gasag shares. © Gasag AG
In a third phase, the remaining residential and commercial areas could be connected to the hydrogen network. However, due to the uncertainties regarding the political and regulatory framework, the availability of CO2-free hydrogen and the costs involved, the NBB is initially focusing on the first two phases.
Switching from one type of gas to another is nothing new for Berliners, who have been supplied with gas for almost 180 years: Back in 1996, Gasag switched the network from town gas made from hydrocarbons (coal, oil, gasoline) to natural gas. Currently, demand in Berlin is covered almost exclusively by fossil natural gas and has only been supplemented by biogas since 2010. The NBB also wants to gradually develop its hydrogen network in the state of Brandenburg and connect it to the hydrogen backbone of the transmission system operator Ontras.
Photos
Gas transfer station © NBB Netzgesellschaft Berlin-Brandenburg mbH & Co. KG
