In addition to the production of hydrogen, the reliable distribution of the gas to the end customer is also a decisive factor for a future hydrogen economy. Existing gas distribution networks play an important role here. In combination with new regional hydrogen pipelines to be built, they can and shall ensure safe transport and must be prepared accordingly for local customer needs.

Today, according to the valid regulations of the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW), up to 10 percent by volume of hydrogen may be added to natural gas in Germany as an additional energy carrier - without causing technical or customer-specific problems. Our goal is to prove that a higher admixture of hydrogen of up to 20 percent by volume is also possible without any problems. A current pilot project of the E.ON subsidiary Avacon, which started in 2019, aims to show exactly that. In the Fläming region, we want to add up to 20 percent hydrogen by volume into natural gas from the end of 2021. At the same time, we are also preparing for the possibilities of converting to a pure hydrogen supply. To this end, the project of the E.ON subsidiary Westnetz, which is unique in Germany, started in November 2020: In Holzwickede, an existing natural gas pipeline of the public gas supply is being converted to pure hydrogen.

Whether pure hydrogen or hydrogen mixed with natural gas is needed differs depending on the application and sector. The industrial and transport sector, for example, prefers to be supplied with pure hydrogen, especially in steel production or in heavy-duty and long-distance transport. Here it is necessary to provide the corresponding regional network infrastructure - either through the targeted conversion of existing gas pipelines or through new construction. In addition to the use of heat pumps, green gas will also enable the targeted CO₂ reduction in the heating market for households and industry.

Hydrogen can be added to the existing gas networks up to a non-critical level and fossil natural gas can be successively replaced by biomethane. The use of synthetic methane or a switch to pure hydrogen are then the long-term solution options for achieving climate neutrality.

By 2030, we at E.ON will be able to blend green gases regionally into the distribution grid or, if required, to take over a supply of 100 per cent hydrogen. This will be made possible by decentralised power-to-gas and biomethane plants as well as by connecting to the planned hydrogen long-distance pipeline network.

The gas infrastructure of our distribution network is largely suitable for transporting the mixed gas with 20 percent hydrogen by volume. The same applies to pure hydrogen. The pipeline materials used in the distribution network have the corresponding material compatibility in principle. Fittings, for example, must be evaluated according to the rules of technology for the specific application and replaced if necessary.

With the addition of hydrogen up to 10 percent by volume, we ensure that the gas we supply to our customers can largely be utilised without major adjustments to the application technologies. The project in the Fläming region aims at a future feed-in of 20 percent by volume and will provide important findings in this regard. Newer heating systems can already be operated with hydrogen quantities of up to 20 percent by volume. However, this requires prior consultation with the respective manufacturer. For Westnetz's project in Holzwickede with a conversion to 100 percent hydrogen, existing heating systems will be replaced and newly developed, hydrogen-compatible condensing boilers will be used by customers.

The DVGW rules that apply to the gas industry are currently being adapted with regard to the feed-in of 20 percent hydrogen by volume and pure hydrogen.

The projects in the Fläming region and in Holzwickede are real and concrete innovation projects with which we are checking how natural gas pipelines, but also end appliances such as gas boilers react to hydrogen. These and other activities in the field of hydrogen support our goal of making our gas networks H₂-ready.

Green, grey, blue and turquoise – there is a “colourful” mixture of types of hydrogen, even when in reality they are all colourless. We explain what it all means: