Germany’s gas industry plans to establish a pipeline network measuring 5,900 kilometres to enable the large-scale use of hydrogen in the country. According to a plan seen by business daily Handelsblatt, gas transmission grid operator umbrella organisation FNB Gas intends to use mainly existing infrastructure to transport hydrogen from future generation sites in the north of the country to industrial centres in the west and south, reports Klaus Stratmann for Handelsblatt.

“Transmission grid operators are committed to also using the existing gas infrastructure for hydrogen. We are working at full speed on concrete technical and network planning solutions to ensure that the integration can be successful,” FNB Gas head Ralph Bahke told the newspaper. More than 90 percent of the hydrogen grid planned by the operators is based on the existing network used for transporting natural gas. The hydrogen grid would also allow for the import of hydrogen via ships or pipelines, according to Clean Energy Wire.