Lower Saxony Funds the Construction of an Undersea Hydrogen Pipeline on the North Sea Bed
Lower Saxony Allocates €60 Million to Support the AquaDuctus Hydrogen Pipeline Project in the North Sea. Lower Saxony has announced a €60 million investment to support the construction of the AquaDuctus offshore hydrogen pipeline in the North Sea, as reported by The Hydrogen Network of Lower Saxony. The project will also receive €140 million in funding from the German federal government, underscoring its strategic importance for developing Europe’s green hydrogen economy.
AquaDuctus: A Key Component of European Hydrogen Infrastructure
The AquaDuctus pipeline, part of the broader AquaVentus initiative, is designed as a cornerstone of Europe’s hydrogen transmission network. The pipeline will span over 400 kilometers, aiming to transport green hydrogen, produced from offshore wind energy, to the European mainland. AquaDuctus is planned as an open-access infrastructure, available to multiple users on a non-discriminatory basis. This approach will facilitate cross-border cooperation among countries and operators in the North Sea region.
The pipeline is expected to transport up to 1 million tons of hydrogen annually, significantly contributing to Europe’s climate goals.
Phase One: Connecting the SEN-1 Wind Farm to the Mainland
In its initial phase, AquaDuctus will connect the SEN-1 offshore wind farm, located in Germany’s exclusive economic zone, to the mainland. SEN-1 is projected to generate approximately 1 GW of electricity for green hydrogen production. A 200-kilometer pipeline will transport the hydrogen to Germany’s hydrogen infrastructure and, from there, to consumers across Europe.
Future phases will expand AquaDuctus to connect additional offshore wind farms in Germany’s economic zone and link it to hydrogen infrastructure in other North Sea countries, including Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and the UK.
European Significance and Political Support
The AquaDuctus project is seeking recognition as a “Project of Common Interest” (PCI) under European Union programs. Achieving PCI status would provide additional financial and regulatory support, emphasizing the project’s fundamental role in Europe’s energy transition and hydrogen market integration.
“AquaDuctus will be a central element of Germany’s and Europe’s future hydrogen infrastructure, linking numerous hydrogen production sites and enabling international transmission,” stated Christoph von dem Bussche, Managing Director of GASCADE.
Partners and International Collaboration
The project is spearheaded by Germany’s GASCADE Gastransport GmbH and Belgium’s infrastructure group Fluxys. The partners are closely collaborating to ensure the project’s technical and commercial feasibility.
In 2022, detailed feasibility studies confirmed the viability of all project phases, including technical, marketing, and regulatory aspects.
Hydrogen as a Key to Climate Neutrality
Lower Saxony and project stakeholders view AquaDuctus as a critical step toward establishing an integrated European hydrogen network. The North Sea region is estimated to have a hydrogen production potential of 100 GW. Realizing this potential requires robust infrastructure, and AquaDuctus aims to be the “backbone” of Europe’s hydrogen economy.
“Hydrogen plays a crucial role in the energy transition and in ensuring Europe’s energy security. AquaDuctus will not only enable large-scale green hydrogen production and transmission but also strengthen cooperation among North Sea countries,” noted Pascal De Buck, CEO of Fluxys.
Source: aquaductus-offshore.de