Copyright: Hamburger Energienetze GmbH
Copyright: Hamburger Energienetze GmbH
08-08-2025

Rededicating a Natural Gas Pipeline in the Hamburg Gas Grid for Hydrogen Transport

The construction of the Hamburg Hydrogen Industry Network (“HH-WIN”) is progressing rapidly. After the pipeline sections south of the Elbe begin operation in 2027, green hydrogen is expected to cross the Süderelbe in this area. For this reason, Hamburger Energienetze, municipal operator of the gas grid in the hanseatic city, is cleaning and inspecting an existing natural gas pipeline near the Kattwyk Bridge. The pipeline runs approximately five meters beneath the riverbed of the Süderelbe. This so-called “düker” (a pipeline running under a river) consists of concrete-encased steel pipes—one currently transports natural gas, and the other is planned to be used for hydrogen in the future.

With the Süderelbe crossing, the HH-WIN hydrogen network will reach the Elbe island of Hohe Schaar from Moorburg. Hohe Schaar is home to additional industrial companies and a planned hydrogen import terminal. A specialized company has now cleaned the approximately 450-meter-long düker pipeline and then thoroughly inspected it for condition and material properties.

Michael Dammann, Technical Managing Director of Hamburg Energienetze, sees several advantages in repurposing the düker: “Making the existing pipeline ready for hydrogen saves both construction time and investment costs. However, we are currently focused on verifying the integrity of this decades-old pipeline section to ensure our hydrogen network operates just as safely and reliably as our other energy networks.”

To clean and inspect the Kattwyk düker, Hamburg Energienetze sends so-called “pigs” through the pipeline. Compressed air propels these elongated devices through the roughly 30-centimeter-thick steel pipes. First, a roughly four-meter-long cleaning pig was used to remove dust deposits and other residues from the inner walls of the pipe. This was followed by two inspection pigs: the first, equipped with ultrasonic sensor technology, provides a highly precise electronic image of the steel wall thicknesses. A second pig, fitted with high-tech sensors, uses magnetic resonance technology to deliver detailed information on corrosion levels and the material condition of the pipeline.

As part of this measure, Hamburg Energienetze also included a pipeline that will continue to be part of the natural gas network. During the operation, the gas supply to the harbor area north of the Süderelbe was temporarily rerouted via two other Elbe crossings—near the Köhlbrand Bridge and the Elbe Bridges. After pigging, Hamburg Energienetze is now carefully evaluating all measurement data to initiate any necessary repair work. In the future, hydrogen is expected to flow through the Kattwyk düker at a pressure of 25 bar.

Source: https://www.hamburger-energienetze.de/ueber-uns/presse/pressemitteilungen/weitere-erdgasleitung-soll-umgewidmet-werden

Further news

  • Copyright: OGE

    H2med Welcomes 40 New Members

    The H2med Alliance is growing rapidly: 40 new members were admitted at a meeting in Berlin, bringing the initiative’s total number to 49 partners from the entire hydrogen value chain. The goal is to promote international trade in hydrogen and advance the development of the (…)

  • Copytight:

    Hintco Announces Global Lot for Green Hydrogen

    Hintco, a project company of the H2Global Foundation, has opened the application phase for international lots as part of the current auction round for renewable hydrogen and its derivatives. With this so-called “Global Lot,” hydrogen produced worldwide is to be imported into Germany and the (…)

  • Copyright: bayernets GmbH

    Pipeline for the Future: HyPipe One Receives Approval

    The government of Upper Bavaria has granted the transmission system operator bayernets approval for the HyPipe one hydrogen pipeline. The project is part of the national hydrogen core grid, which will benefit not only the chemical industry in the Burghausen area but also other regions (…)

  • Spatenstich für Wasserstoffleitung zwischen Niederlanden und Deutschland

    Groundbreaking for Hydrogen Pipeline Between the Netherlands and Germany

    In Hoogstede (District of Grafschaft Bentheim), gas transmission system operator Thyssengas has launched the construction of a cross-border hydrogen pipeline. With the official groundbreaking, work begins on converting an existing natural gas pipeline between Vlieghuis in the Netherlands and Ochtrup in the Münsterland region. By 2027, (…)

  • Machbarkeitsstudie bestätigt Planungen für SnsHyne Corridor

    Feasibility Study Confirms Plans for SunsHyne Corridor

    According to a feasibility study commissioned by the gas transmission system operators involved in the project, there are no technical or economic obstacles to the planned SunsHyne Corridor. As a central transport infrastructure for hydrogen imports from North Africa, the SunsHyne Corridor is set to (…)

  • Copyright: Swen Gottschall/DIE GAS- UND WASSERSTOFFWIRTSCHAFT

    Linde Receives Funding Notice for New Electrolysis Plant in Leuna

    At its Leuna site, Linde is planning an additional electrolysis plant for the production of sustainably generated hydrogen. The new facility is scheduled to go into operation by 2026. The project is supported by the “Sachsen-Anhalt ZUKUNFTSENERGIEN” program and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). (…)

  • Nationaler Wasserstoffrat stellt F&E-Bedarfe für Wasserstoff und Derivate vor

    National Hydrogen Council presents R&D needs for hydrogen and derivatives

    The National Hydrogen Council (NWR) has published a new information and background paper that systematically analyzes the technological challenges and research needs along the value chain of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen as well as its derivatives. The paper organizes the relevant technologies according to their technology (…)

  • örderung des Wasserstoffprojekts „FormaPort“ in Rostock

    Funding for the Hydrogen Project “FormaPort” in Rostock

    Dr. Wolfgang Blank, Minister for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, today handed over a funding notification of around €2.8 million for the research and development project “FormaPort” on the sidelines of the Hanse Sail in Rostock. On the premises of the Leibniz (…)

  • Dritte Wasserstoff-Auktion nun auch für kohlenstoffarmen Wasserstoff

    Third Hydrogen Auction Open to Low-Carbon Hydrogen

    The European Commission has published the drafted Terms & Conditions for the third auction round of the European Hydrogen Bank. Until mid-September interested parties can submit their comments. The draft is available on the website of the Directorate-General for Climate Action. Low-carbon hydrogen eligible for funding The (…)

  • Wasserstoff-Molekül

    Hintco Opens Second Application Phase

    Hintco, project company of the H2Global Foundation, has started the application phase for the regional lots of its auction for renewable hydrogen and its derivatives. This marks the second round of Hintco’s hydrogen program. Germany and the Netherlands are jointly providing 2.5 billion euros for (…)

  • Energie Schwaben baut drei Elektrolyseure

    Energie Schwaben is Building Three Electrolyzers

    The energie schwaben Group will build a total of three electrolysers with a capacity of five megawatts each for the production of green hydrogen in its supply area. The possible expansion has already been planned. From 2027, the electrolysers in Allmannshofen, Illertissen and Rohrenfels or (…)

  • Andritz opens electrolyzer gigafactory in Erfurt

    ANDRITZ Opens Electrolyzer Gigafactory in Erfurt

    ANDRITZ opened its new electrolyzer gigafactory in Erfurt, Germany, in the presence of Thuringia’s Minister President Mario Voigt. The new plant has an initial production capacity of around one gigawatt – equivalent to around 160 to 200 electrolyzers per year. Key components for the production (…)

  • Offshore-Pipeline soll britischen Wasserstoff mit deutscher Nachfrage verbinden

    Offshore Pipeline to Connect British Hydrogen with German Demand

    German transmission system operator GASCADE Gastransport GmbH and UK transmission system operator National Gas have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the feasibility of a hydrogen corridor between the UK and Germany in the North Sea through an offshore pipeline connection – an important (…)

  • Ammoniak-Cracker auf See bereit für den Einsatz – Höegh Evi Floating Terminal with Cracker

    Offshore Ammonia Cracker Ready for Deployment

    Höegh Evi, a global leader in marine energy infrastructure, and Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, have successfully completed development of the world’s first floating ammonia-to-hydrogen cracker. This breakthrough technology enables floating import terminals to produce hydrogen at industrial-scale volumes from transported ammonia, (…)