Bremen’s connection to the national transport network for hydrogen that runs through Lower Saxony is planned for 2025. The transmission system operator Gasunie Deutschland has announced plans to begin work on this project, known as Hyperlink, this year. Hyperlink aims to connect Germany with neighboring countries like the Netherlands and Denmark, with hydrogen being transported to customers through the network. Large-scale consumers of hydrogen, such as the steel industry, will greatly benefit from this network, allowing them to produce steel more efficiently while reducing their carbon footprint. Hydrogen can also be used for fuel cells in cars, commercial vehicles, and airplanes.
The goal of the Bremen Senator for Economic Affairs Kristina Vogt is for the Bremen steelworks to be connected to Hyperlink, which will allow other companies to access hydrogen as well. Vogt also wants to support small and medium-sized companies on their way to the hydrogen economy. The state is already making strides by launching the Hybit hydrogen project, which includes building an electrolysis plant with a capacity of ten megawatts for hydrogen production at the Bremen-Mittelsbüren power plant site. Bremer Hydrogen GmbH will begin construction work in the spring.
The Hyperlink project plans to use existing natural gas pipes with a length of around 690 kilometers. These pipes will be retrofitted to accommodate the different densities of hydrogen and natural gas. Sections with a length of 270 kilometers will be rebuilt to ensure maximum efficiency. According to Gasunie, the Hyperlink should ultimately reach a length of around 1000 kilometers.
Lower Saxony will also benefit from the project, with a hyperlink planned to lead to important industrial locations such as Salzgitter and Wolfsburg. The plan is also to connect North Rhine-Westphalia to the network. As the state looks towards a hydrogen economy, the Hyperlink project is a vital step towards achieving a sustainable future.
