Ukraine will become a supplier of hydrogen to Europe – GTS is building a corridor to Germany

Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Germany will create a “Central Hydrogen Corridor” through which hydrogen will be supplied from Ukraine to the EU countries.

This was reported by the Operator of Gas Transportation Systems of Ukraine.

Four companies are involved in the project – NET4GAS (the operator of the GTS in the Czech Republic), EUSTREAM (the operator of the GTS in Slovakia), the Operator of the GTS of Ukraine (OGTSU) and OGE (the leading operator of the GTS in Germany).

“Natural gas will remain a key energy source and an important factor in the decarbonization program over the next two decades. However, hydrogen is likely to play a significant role until 2050, when the European economy is expected to achieve carbon neutrality. That is why we must start research these opportunities today “, – said Pavel Stanchak, Deputy General Director for Development and Transformation of the GTS Operator of Ukraine.

According to him, hydrogen is a promising technology that is at an early stage of implementation across the economy. Partnership with neighboring GTS operators will create synergies for the development of green hydrogen

Note that the hydrogen corridor can be created in part by re-profiling the existing gas infrastructure in combination with targeted investments in new specialized hydrogen pipelines and compressor stations. This will ensure the transportation of hydrogen over long distances at an affordable price.

Already in 2022, the companies plan to test the capacity and cost of the corridor. The expected transportation volumes are up to 120 GWh per day.

Hydrogen in the “green transition”

Supporters of hydrogen energy believe that hydrogen, which emits only water when burned, can be used in various fields:

• as a fuel replacement in industrial processes (for example, in the production of steel and cement):
• in cars instead of gasoline;
• for heating houses;
• as clean energy for other utilities when solar and wind power is not available (hydrogen can be stored and burned to generate electricity as needed).

Green hydrogen is most effective in the decarbonisation pathway. It is obtained by means of renewable energy sources (RES), mainly by electrolysis of water. However, the share of such hydrogen is still small, 78% of this fuel is still produced using gas and oil processing, which does not meet all the requirements of the “green transition”.

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