23 March 2023
Study DNV: hydrogen pipelines in the North Sea makes economic sense and is practically feasible
A network of hydrogen pipelines in the North Sea makes economic sense and is practicable. So say researchers from consulting firm DNV. The researchers suggest that a network of some 4,200 kilometers of hydrogen pipelines could be built in the North Sea. This would cost between 15 and 22 billion euros. By 2050, 300 terawatt-hour-equivalent green hydrogen could thus come ashore from the North Sea, the study shows. By 2050, EU hydrogen demand is expected to be at least 2,000 terawatt-hours-equivalent - almost 10 times what it is today.
Producing hydrogen gas in the North Sea and distributing it through pipelines is cheaper than importing hydrogen transported by ships to northwestern Europe, according to the researchers. Getting hydrogen from Africa and the Middle East is often seen as attractive, because the production of green hydrogen in sunshine-rich countries is more efficient than in Europe. But to move hydrogen safely, it is typically converted to ammonia - and then turned back into hydrogen gas. Thus, transportation drives up costs.