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“Pipe clear for H2”: OGE and Nowega start first conversion of a pipeline from natural gas to hydrogen

Under the motto “Pipe free for H2”, the long-distance gas network operators Nowega and OGE today celebrated an important step on the way to the hydrogen age in Lower Saxony. For the first time in Germany, the conversion of a long-distance gas pipeline to transport hydrogen was started at OGE’s Emsbüren compressor station.

The highlight of the day was a symbolic push of a button: the guests thus gave the signal for OGE’s mobile compressor to start extracting natural gas. This involves pumping the gas from the Emsbüren-Bad Bentheim and Bad Bentheim-Legden pipeline sections into another pipeline section. This process will take around two days. Immediately afterwards, the pipeline sections, which are approx. 46 km long in total, are disconnected from the natural gas network. After this, the upgrading measures for the transport of hydrogen will start, which is expected to take place from 2025. The conversion will enable numerous industrial and SME customers to connect to the hydrogen supply in the future.

The pipeline sections are part of the GET H2 Nucleus project, and have been selected for funding as IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest). The Emsbüren-Bad Bentheim section is owned by OGE, the Bad Bentheim-Legden section is owned 50% each by OGE and Nowega. Another Nowega pipeline running from Lingen to Bad Bentheim will be converted to hydrogen from November 2023, and Nowega started building a new pipeline to close the gap in Lingen at the end of September. Both transmission system operators are part of the GET H2 initiative, which aims to establish the core for a nationwide hydrogen infrastructure.

Photo of OGE

Press release https://shorturl.at/lxDMO

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