Joint project by GASCADE and National Gas aims to boost European energy security, resilience, and decarbonisation ambitions.
Rotterdam. The German transmission system operator GASCADE Gastransport GmbH (GASCADE) and Great Britain’s Gas National Transmission System (NTS) operator National Gas have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the feasibility to establish a hydrogen corridor between the UK and Germany in the North Sea through an offshore pipeline interconnection – a significant step towards a secure, resilient, and sustainable European energy system.
The two transmission companies are building upon the latest results of a feasibility study carried out by Arup, Adelphi and Dena as part of the German-British hydrogen partnership: the establishment of a hydrogen corridor through an offshore pipeline interconnection to facilitate the development of a cross-border hydrogen market between the two countries.
Hanna Schumacher, Head of Division for Hydrogen and Gas Infrastructure at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, was present at the signing of the memorandum of understanding at the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam and expressly welcomed the planned cooperation between the two transmission system operators.
The UK-Germany Hydrogen Corridor project will consist of two offshore pipeline sections. The first section will start from the UK mainland and will be linked to the second section, GASCADE’s AquaDuctus pipeline project, which connects to the German mainland.
The planned project aims to establish critical infrastructure that will not only accelerate the decarbonization of industry through green and low-carbon hydrogen but also significantly enhance Europe's energy independence. By connecting the substantial hydrogen production potential in the UK with the hydrogen demand in Germany and continental Europe through the AquaDuctus pipeline in the German North Sea, the project will contribute substantially to the resilience and flexibility of Europe's emerging hydrogen economy.
"This collaboration marks an important milestone for Europe's energy future," says Ulrich Benterbusch, Managing Director at GASCADE. "Through joint infrastructure projects like this, we can leverage the UK's significant renewable resources and Germany's strategic hydrogen storage and consumption capabilities, diversifying energy imports and strengthening European energy security."
Jon Butterworth, CEO at National Gas, emphasizes: “Our partnership with GASCADE is evidence of our determination and capability to work together, not only to support Europe's climate ambitions but importantly to build a stronger and more resilient energy system that benefits us all”.
The UK-Germany Hydrogen Corridor project will provide bidirectional transport capabilities, offering enhanced flexibility and security of supply for both markets. It aligns strategically with European initiatives to build a robust hydrogen economy, significantly reducing dependency on energy imports and promoting sustainable industrial growth.
Both GASCADE and National Gas aim to pursue Project of Common Interest (PCI) or Project of Mutual Interest (PMI) status for the project, underscoring the strategic importance of this initiative within European energy policy frameworks. They also intend to incorporate the project into the European Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) 2026.
About National Gas
National Gas is responsible for transporting gas to power stations, major industries, storage facilities, more than 500,000 businesses, and 23 million homes through nearly 5,000 miles of pipes across Britain. National Gas is also proud to lead the way in transforming the energy network for a net zero future. Gas provides the energy security to support renewable electricity generation, and we are developing our infrastructure to transport hydrogen and carbon dioxide across the country.
About GASCADE
GASCADE Gastransport GmbH operates a gas pipeline network spanning approximately 3,700 kilometers across Germany. Based in Kassel, GASCADE provides advanced and competitive gas transportation services, strategically located at the heart of Europe. As part of its commitment to Europe's energy transition, GASCADE is progressively adapting its infrastructure for hydrogen transport, actively participating in numerous onshore and offshore hydrogen projects.
