Dutch Companies Gasunie and Petrogas to Explore Reusing North Sea Pipeline for Green Hydrogen Transport
Dutch natural gas infrastructure and transportation company Gasunie, along with Petrogas Transportation, have announced plans to collaborate on a project aimed at repurposing the Petrogas pipeline located under the North Sea for the transportation of green hydrogen. This initiative is part of the offshore hydrogen project Demo 1, which is supported by the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth.
The primary focus of the research will be to determine the feasibility of reusing and potentially repurposing the existing pipeline for the offshore hydrogen project. The project involves the establishment of a 20 to 50MW electrolysis plant for the production of green hydrogen in the North Sea, with the hydrogen being brought ashore in the North Sea Canal Area.
Gasunie, in collaboration with various stakeholders including the Dutch Ministry of Climate and Green Growth, is exploring the technical, legal, economic, and environmental aspects of repurposing the pipeline. On the other hand, Petrogas is investigating different options for reusing its infrastructure, including the transport of green hydrogen through its current pipeline network.
With the Netherlands aiming to expand its offshore wind capacity to enhance sustainability and reduce reliance on external energy sources, the development of an offshore hydrogen network is crucial. This network would enable the efficient utilization of wind energy by converting it into hydrogen at sea and transporting it to shore through offshore pipelines.
By leveraging offshore pipelines for hydrogen transport, the need for extensive land-based infrastructure such as cables and electrolysers is minimized, leading to cost savings and improved energy system efficiency. Furthermore, the interconnected North Sea pipelines offer the potential for cross-border hydrogen trade with other North Sea countries.
Gasunie highlighted its involvement in international research projects focused on establishing safety standards for the reuse of offshore pipelines. The collaboration between Gasunie and Petrogas will help assess the suitability of the Petrogas pipeline for safe hydrogen transport in accordance with the latest industry standards.
Overall, the joint effort between Gasunie and Petrogas represents a significant step towards advancing the green hydrogen infrastructure in the North Sea region, supporting the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.