Energinet and Evida to operate Danish hydrogen pipelines
A new political agreement on ownership and operation of hydrogen infrastructure gives Evida and Energinet a key role in the development of a pipeline infrastructure that can support the hydrogen economy of the future.
Evida will be responsible for connecting domestic hydrogen producers and consumers and can connect these to an interconnected system, while Energinet will be responsible for connecting cross-border hydrogen infrastructure and the connection to hydrogen storage.
Energinet and Evida will both have important roles when the future piped hydrogen infrastructure is to be planned and built. The parties behind the 1st Partial Agreement on Ownership and Operation of the future Danish pipe-bound hydrogen infrastructure agree that:
As a starting point, Energinet connects cross-border pipe-based hydrogen infrastructure to a Danish receiving point, offshore pipe-based hydrogen infrastructure and cross-border hydrogen pipes across the country to hydrogen storage, a so-called backbone.
Evida basically connects domestic hydrogen producers and consumers and can connect these to an interconnected hydrogen system. The task of a system-responsible company is carried out by Energinet.
Kim Søgård Bering Kristensen welcomes the broad political agreement on the ownership and operation of the pipe-based hydrogen infrastructure. He said, “Today’s agreement marks the beginning of the transformation of Evida from being a gas distribution company to becoming an important commercially driven social actor. A company whose future is also based on establishing, operating and developing a nationwide infrastructure on hydrogen for the benefit of Danish business and Danish society. Here, this initiative is an important first step on the way to giving the Danish PtX industry a boost in all parts of the country where the market demands it. We look forward to developing the infrastructure in a continued close dialogue with the market players, so that it supports their business ambitions in the future hydrogen economy”.
Thomas Egebo also welcomes the political agreement. He said, “Green hydrogen made from renewable energy can within a few years play a decisive role in the Danish and European energy system. The most important, of course, is that hydrogen can ensure us sufficient energy, but almost as important, hydrogen production can ensure that we can maintain the necessary balance between electricity production and electricity consumption and thus the Danes’ electricity supply. Hydrogen can be made when the wind blows and the sun shines, helping to even out the huge differences that a wind and solar power system creates. We are already on target with the initial studies of how an overall Danish hydrogen system can look and be built. With today’s agreement, we will be able to take the next big steps, so that we can release the potential for renewable energy in Denmark and a new, Danish position of strength within PtX.”
The companies will immediately proceed with the concrete planning task and discuss it with relevant authorities, the two directors explain.
Evida and Energinet’s market dialogue confirms that there is demand for a national hydrogen infrastructure and that the realization of several projects depends on whether they have access to hydrogen pipes.
At the same time, Denmark’s goal of multiplying electricity from wind turbines and solar cells creates the basis for producing green hydrogen made via electrolysis. Green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in parts of the industry and the transport sector. In addition, the hydrogen can be further refined into green fuels and chemicals that can be used in e.g. shipping, aviation and parts of the industry – sectors that cannot be electrified directly.
