Central European Hydrogen Corridor
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Central European Hydrogen Corridor (CEHC) is a proposed a hydrogen pipeline in Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany.[1]
Location
The pipeline will run from Ukraine to Germany.
Project details
- Operator: OGE, NET4GAS, EUSTREAM, Gas TSO of Ukraine[1]
- Owner: OGE, NET4GAS, EUSTREAM, Gas TSO of Ukraine[1]
- Parent company: OGE, NET4GAS, EUSTREAM, Gas TSO of Ukraine[1]
- Capacity: 144 GWh/d[1]
- Length: 1,225 km[1]
- Diameter:
- Status: Proposed[1]
- Start Year: 2030[1]
- Cost: EUR 1,000-1,500 million[1]
- Financing:
- Associated infrastructure:
Background
The Central European Hydrogen Corridor (CEHC) initiative was launched in 2021 by four gas infrastructure companies driven by the vision to develop a hydrogen “highway” through Central Europe. Participating companies include EUSTREAM (the Slovak gas TSO), Gas TSO of Ukraine (GTSOU), NET4GAS (the Czech gas TSO) and OGE (a leading German gas TSO). The initiative explores the feasibility of creating a hydrogen pipeline corridor in Central Europe for transporting hydrogen from major hydrogen supply areas in Ukraine via Slovakia and the Czech Republic to hydrogen demand areas in Germany. The hydrogen corridor will also enable the transport of hydrogen between hydrogen production facilities and hydrogen consumers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.[1]
Technical characteristics
In November 2022, after one year of research, the project promoters finalized the pre-feasibility study. According to Andreas Rau, NET4GAS’s Managing Director, the results of the pre-feasibility study were very positive, and the study clearly indicated that it is technically feasible to transport 120 GWh of hydrogen per day through Central Europe by 2030. However, still many uncertainties remain, including impact the war in Ukraine on the project.”[1]
In addition to the technical feasibility, the project promoters have also analyzed the potential costs of repurposing specific gas pipelines for the transport of hydrogen, combined with targeted investments in new dedicated hydrogen infrastructure. The initial analysis confirmed that the most relevant gas pipelines for this project could be repurposed to carry 100% hydrogen, which significantly lowers the costs of the project as a whole.[1]
Financing
The project is planned to be completed by 2030, with works starting already in 2024. However, an appropriate legal and regulatory framework and the necessary investment conditions are required as the participating companies are fully regulated and unbundled transmission system operators. The project promoters are discussing the project with policy makers and have nominated the CEHC to the EU Ten-Year Network Development Plan. They are also considering applying for the status of Project of European Common Interest (PCI) to be eligible for EU funds.[1]
Implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
The war in Ukraine has not lowered the commitment for the project among the project promoters. According to Pawel Stanczak, Acting General Director of the Gas TSO of Ukraine, "the project promoters are still convinced of the importance of the Central European Hydrogen Corridor. The EU has significantly increased the targets for biomethane and hydrogen production in the new REPowerEU Plan to become independent from Russian fossil fuels and has identified Ukraine as one of the key partners in the development of hydrogen energy. This corridor will contribute to the shift to renewable gases and energy security in Europe.”[1]
