Dutch gas infrastructure company Gasunie is seeking Project of Common Interest (PCI) status from the EU for a potential hydrogen production, transportation and storage network in and surrounding the German North Sea, scheduled for commissioning by 2030.

PCI status is awarded to cross-border projects linking two or more member states’ energy systems. These projects benefit from accelerated permitting as well as funding via the €5.8bn ($6.2bn) Connecting Europe Facility.

The German network would enable large-scale imports of hydrogen from Norway, as well as supply of green hydrogen produced by future North Sea windfarms. Gasunie plans to connect the German network to a potential Dutch network, allowing cross-border hydrogen flows between the two nations.

2030 – German hydrogen network to be completed

Gasunie's application is part of the international Clean Hydrogen for Europe partnership. Member companies from Germany, Belgium, France and Norway have also contributed their own PCI projects to the partnership.

German utility RWE has confirmed to Hydrogen Economist that it has submitted nine PCI applications, including five for electrolysers along the planned hydrogen pipeline network. It has also submitted three applications for storage sites and one for a planned import terminal for hydrogen or ammonia.

Belgium’s Fluxys and Germany’s Gascade announced in January that they had applied for PCI status for the 400km Aquaductus pipeline, which aims to bring hydrogen produced offshore to Germany’s onshore network.

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Author: Polly Martin