The European energy supply company Onyx Power has concluded a contract with the transmission system operator Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE) for the future connection to the ‘Wilhelmshaven Coastal Line’ (WKL) hydrogen pipeline in order to make the Wilhelmshaven power plant site fit for the future. This agreement enables Onyx Power to realise a connection after the planned completion of the pipeline as part of the hydrogen core network in 2027 and to feed hydrogen into the national transport network.
„The opportunity to connect to the coastal pipeline is an important step towards the future viability of our site. The era of coal-fired power generation is over, so we need to set the right course now so that we can continue to play a role in the world of renewable energies and the hydrogen economy in the future. We are delighted that we have already been able to secure access to the upcoming Germany-wide hydrogen transport network via the OGE pipeline,“, explains Jörn Neumann, Head of Onyx Power's Wilhelmshaven power plant.
Onyx Power is currently developing several projects for market entry into the hydrogen sector. The direct location to the Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal provides the existing power plant site with optimal conditions for this. Additional support comes from the ENERGY HUB Port of Wilhelmshaven group of companies, which is driving forward the development of a regional hydrogen economy in Friesland.
„We are delighted that Onyx Power has secured the connection option for the core network alongside other players in Wilhelmshaven. We therefore very much welcome the opportunity to jointly support the market ramp-up of hydrogen as an energy source of the future. This opens up a wide range of prospects for the future development of the power plant site after coal-fired power generation and contributes to the goals of the ENERGY HUB“, explains Henrich von Kopp-Colomb, Head of Customer Solutions at OGE.
The Wilhelmshaven coastal line and the North Sea-Ruhr Link together form the most important transport link for hydrogen from the northern regions to the industrial offtake centres. These two pipelines are part of the nationwide hydrogen core network, which was approved by the German government and the Federal Network Agency in October 2024. They ensure both the connection of domestic hydrogen producers and consumers as well as access to the northern import corridor for hydrogen and its onward transport to north-west Germany.
