German Hydrogen Operators Launch Joint Capacity Reservation System for Pipeline Network

Germany's Hydrogen Core Network Operators, led by Gasunie Deutschland Transport Services GmbH and OGE, have launched a unified capacity reservation system for transporting hydrogen through repurposed pipelines nationwide. The coordinated process enables the first combined booking of entry and exit rights across the network for the 2026–2030 period.

The reservation system features a standardized application form, model contract, and online portal to streamline the booking process. Applicants select entry and exit points, submit requests, and pay a nominal fee equivalent to approximately 5% of the ramp-up tariff. Operators will review allocations pro rata if demand exceeds supply and publish results within six weeks. Successful applicants receive five-year capacity certificates.

The network is organized into regional clusters—import hubs in the north, the Ruhr industrial belt, southern production zones, and eastern consumer corridors—each with specific volume forecasts and tariff bands. An interactive web map helps operators identify pipeline routes, interconnections, and potential bottlenecks.

Germany's 2020 National Hydrogen Strategy targets 10 GW of electrolyzer capacity by 2030 and conversion of approximately 9,000 km of existing pipelines for hydrogen service by 2032. The Bundesnetzagentur approved detailed core network plans in 2023, greenlighting about 4,600 km under Gasunie Deutschland's management. Technical integrity studies are underway to ensure converted pipelines meet safety and performance standards per EU hydrogen network codes.

Originally reported by Hydrogen Fuel News. Read the full article →