"This is another important step towards the creation of our Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park, which will be the first project in Germany to cover the entire value chain of the hydrogen economy", explains Cornelia Müller-Pagel, project manager of the consortium.
In order to be able to optimally control the pipeline network of the future of the transmission system operator ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH, even when operating with hydrogen, and thus ensure technically flawless operation, a pig lock was installed at the Bad Lauchstädt energy park site. With the help of such a pig lock, intelligent measuring probes, so-called pigs, can be inserted into a transport pipeline during operation and, similar to a pneumatic post, travel through the pipeline to the next pig lock to check its condition. The insertion of the pig trap is a crucial part of the conversion of the gas transport pipeline to the transport of hydrogen
"Wind turbines and the electrolyser are currently being built in the immediate vicinity, which will interact to produce the hydrogen that ONTRAS will transport to the customer. The project is not only a pioneering project in its entirety, but with the conversion of an existing natural gas pipeline, we will be putting the first hydrogen pipeline in Germany into operation as early as next year", Cornelia Müller-Pagel continues.
In order to be able to convert the transport pipeline, which was previously operated with natural gas, appropriate preparations have been made since the start of the project in 2021. This included a detailed inspection of the technical condition of the pipeline and the creation of a catalogue of measures to upgrade the pipeline based on the results. To this end, technical measures such as replacing the valves and disconnecting the pipeline from the natural gas network have been and are now being implemented.
"By lifting the pre-assembled pig launching station into the prepared excavation pit using a mobile crane and welding it to the pipeline in the ground, we have also laid the foundation stone for the gas transport network of the future", reports Dr Ralf Borschinsky, ONTRAS press spokesman. "What begins with a pipeline a good 25 kilometres long, which transports green hydrogen to the customer, is also the starting point for the planned eastern German hydrogen transport network, our ONTRAS H2 starter network. With a pipeline length of over 900 km and connections to other hydrogen projects, it will be an essential part of the nationwide H2 core network currently under discussion."
In the following months, further preparations will be made for the commissioning of the hydrogen pipeline - such as the construction of a transfer station and the installation of the gas purification and drying plant. Until the Bad Lauchstädt energy park is fully commissioned in 2025, test transports of hydrogen will follow, which will be scientifically supported by the DBI - Gastechnologisches Institut gGmbH Freiberg.
