(Bonn) – “The gas distribution networks are able to make hydrogen usable across the board and for all customers and applications.” This is one of the key points of the “H2vorOrt” policy paper that has now been published. All other related plans are based on this assumption. The concept presented by over 30 gas distribution network operators under the leadership of the German Gas and Water Association (DVGW) provides a roadmap for “how the gas distribution networks should be made ready for hydrogen and climate-neutral gases in various stages”.
Hydrogen as a climate-neutral energy source
It is said that politicians have fundamentally recognized the potential of hydrogen as an energy source and have paved the way for the development of a comprehensive and sustainable hydrogen economy. The next step must be “a consistent commitment to the gas infrastructure” and “the switch to hydrogen must also be politically desired”.
The initiators recommend, among other things, “a conversion bonus for progressive gas end users” and “increased creditability of climate-neutral gases towards CO2 reduction targets” as suitable instruments. According to the DVGW, half of all households have a gas connection. In addition to end consumers, the majority of industrial and commercial customers are also connected to the approximately 500.000 kilometer gas distribution network. Those involved in the project demand, among other things:
- to enshrine in law a specific target for the proportion of climate-neutral gases in the gas mix
- Implement measures of the National Hydrogen Strategy to initiate investments in hydrogen production and network infrastructure in a timely manner
- to create a regulatory framework for the use of hydrogen networks
- to introduce a climate bonus for the use of low-emission gases such as hydrogen
- to grant a bonus for converting end devices to hydrogen.
“In the long term, climate-neutral gases are the number one energy source in the heating market. It therefore makes sense from both an energy and economic perspective to continue to use the existing natural gas infrastructure and upgrade distribution networks,” says Gerald Linke, CEO of the DVGW. “Hydrogen is the ideal medium for renewable electricity in the gas infrastructure.”
Roadmap for the transition
According to the plan, the changeover will take place in stages. Initially, the supra-regional supply of hydrogen will take place via networks that will be upgraded or newly built for the transport of pure hydrogen by 2040 (“H2 backbone”). In addition, the distribution system in the network will be made “H2-ready”, which means that the gas network can be completely converted to hydrogen and is capable of distributing pure hydrogen. The gas is delivered to users both nationwide and regionally.
At the same time, the local production and use of hydrogen and other climate-neutral gases, such as biomethane, offers sufficient potential to begin the decarbonization of the local gas infrastructure. In this way, hydrogen could “be available at an early stage in regions that will only be connected to the H2035 long-distance pipeline network after 2,” says the paper. The companies involved in the project operate around 50 percent of the German gas distribution networks.
Summary of the “H2vorOrt” project
https://www.dvgw.de/medien/dvgw/leistungen/publikationen/h2vorort-wasserstoff-gasverteilnetz-dvgw-factsheet.pdf
“H2vorOrt” brochure: “Making hydrogen usable for everyone via the gas distribution networks”
https://www.dvgw.de/medien/dvgw/leistungen/publikationen/h2vorort-wasserstoff-gasverteilnetz-dvgw-broschuere.pdf
Photo above
Excerpt from the cover image of the “H2vorOrt” brochure / © DVGW
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Cover image of the 22-page, free brochure “H2vorOrt” / © DVGW
