(Copenhagen / Denmark) – Denmark wants to build a piped infrastructure for hydrogen. The two Danish state network operators Energinet (transmission network) and Evida (distribution network) are supposed to develop and operate a “basic framework” including pipelines. Private actors could also – with restrictions – own hydrogen pipelines. An expansion plan is now being drawn up as part of a corresponding agreement between the government and the network operators.
“We have strong ambitions for offshore wind energy, which can deliver large amounts of green electricity,” said Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities yesterday, Tuesday. The electricity can be used to produce hydrogen and green fuels, “which can replace fossil fuels in Denmark and can also be exported to German industry.”
The two companies used “their knowledge, skills and experience from operating and owning the existing electricity and gas network to synchronize the development of the hydrogen infrastructure with the necessary expansion of the electricity network for PtX systems,” said the minister on the occasion Announcement of the agreement reached.
Gas Storage Denmark, part of the Energinet group, is investigating whether a natural gas cavern in Lille Torup can be converted into hydrogen storage. © Gas Storage Denmark
It is also the task of the transmission system operator to “coordinate the hydrogen sector in terms of consumption, production, transport, storage and export as well as in interaction with the other energy markets”. Energinet is therefore responsible for coordinating the hydrogen system with the expansion of Denmark's renewable energies. In addition, Gas Storage Denmark, part of the Energinet group, is currently investigating whether one of the caverns in Lille Torup, which is used for natural gas storage, can be converted into an underground hydrogen storage facility.
The government will present a proposal to finance the infrastructure this year. So far, as reported, 1,25 billion crowns (170 million euros) allocated to kick-start Danish production of green hydrogen.
“Don’t just export hydrogen”
The alliance partners of the Danish government under the Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and other parties in parliament welcomed the project in statements. “It is important that the hydrogen infrastructure is owned and operated by the state, as it is a new important infrastructure in a future energy system with multiple forms of energy,” said Søren Egge Rasmussen, spokesman for energy and utilities for the party Enhedslists. He hopes that the expansion will take place in such a way that “we also use hydrogen in Denmark for transport and when converting industry, so that the state-subsidized hydrogen does not only end up being exported.”
The development is also seen as positive in industry. However, the agreement would have to be followed by “further details on the connection points and tariffs of the pipelines as well as the necessary coordination with the developers of hydrogen and renewable energies,” demands Jacob Krogsgaard, CEO and founder of the Danish hydrogen infrastructure company Everfuel AS.
Development of German-Danish infrastructure
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Energy Minister Lars Aagard only met in Copenhagen in March. Close cooperation in the development of a German-Danish hydrogen infrastructure and a joint work plan for its ramp-up were agreed upon. The aim is, among other things, to “advance the expansion of the transmission infrastructure for green hydrogen between western Denmark and northern Germany from 2028,” it says joint declaration. This enables “large-scale” transmission of green hydrogen between Denmark and Germany.
The agreement between the Danish government and the state network operators is available in full and free of charge PDF (in Danish).
Photos
The two Danish network operators Energinet and Evida are to take care of setting up a pipe-based hydrogen infrastructure in the country. © Energinet
