EnBW to invest €1 billion in national hydrogen core network in Germany

EnBW announced an initial investment of around €1 billion (US $1.09 billion) to establish and expand a national hydrogen core network set to be built by 2032.

This network will become a key component of a future European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB), according to the German government’s plans. The connection to the core network will especially supply hydrogen to major industrial centers, power plants and generation facilities in the future, while transnational corridors for hydrogen imports will also be opened.

“The hydrogen core network represents the first step into the hydrogen economy of the future, establishing the basis for the complete decarbonisation of the German economy and the achievement of climate targets,” Dirk Güsewell, Board Member for System Critical Infrastructure at EnBW, explained.

“EnBW welcomes and supports this groundbreaking project. This marks the beginning of another important chapter in the energy transition, in which our company will invest a total of around €40 billion by 2030,” he added.

Germany is striving to lessen its dependence on oil and natural gas, along with the associated carbon emissions, by facilitating the import and production of clean hydrogen.

If hydrogen is generated through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, it can support the shift to a lower carbon economy. Given the limited land resources for wind and solar power within Germany, it is anticipated that about 70% of its future hydrogen supply will be imported from areas capable of producing it abundantly and cost-effectively.