Gascade and Fluxys step up plans for North Sea hydrogen pipeline

Fluxys Belgium SA

23/01/2023 10:42

FRANKFURT, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Pipeline operators Gascade
 WINT.UL  and Fluxys  FLUX.BR  are stepping up the pace on plans
for a green hydrogen pipeline in the North Sea by applying to
the European Commission to qualify for fast-track approvals and
funding, they said on Monday.
    Germany and the European Union are seeking to shift future
energy production more to renewables and to produce, import and
market clean hydrogen, derived from carbon-free wind and solar
power, to eliminate climate-warming gases.
    The two pipeline infrastructure companies said in a joint
statement they are seeking to help to speed up the development
of a hydrogen economy.
    Germany's Gascade and Belgium's Fluxys are seeking Project
of Common Interest (PCI) status from the EU, under which they
could benefit from accelerated permissioning procedures and
funding. Financial details were not disclosed.
    Their 400 km pipeline, called AquaDuctus, could become a
collecting path, or "backbone", for electricity output from
offshore wind power production sites that would be converted
on-site into clean hydrogen via electrolysis plants.
    Shipments would start in 2030 from the wind park SEN-1 in
the North Sea. In subsequent years, wind farms further offshore
in Germany's exclusive economic zone in the North Sea may be
linked up to transport hydrogen from plants operated by other
countries, such as Norway or Britain, into Germany.
    Studies identify up to 100 gigawatts (GW) of hydrogen
capacity potential in the German and European North Sea, the
statement said.
    Gascade is a subsidiary of Wiga which is jointly owned by
oil and gas producer Wintershall Dea and gas importer Securing
Energy for Europe (Sefe).
    Some climate campaigners say new forms of energy are best
developed outside the influence of fossil fuel incumbents.
 (Reporting by Vera Eckert, editing by Jane Merriman)
 ((vera.eckert@thomsonreuters.com; +49 30 2201 33654;
@EckertVera;))