- Gasunie, Open Grid Europe and Thyssengas will develop a cross-border hydrogen connection between Zevenaar (NL) and Elten (DE), targeting operational status around 2031.
- The scheme will interconnect national hydrogen networks and prioritize repurposing existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport.
- Initial phase targets supply to the Rhine‑Ruhr industrial region, with later expansion toward southern hubs such as Ludwigshafen.
Cross-border hydrogen agreement
Gasunie, Open Grid Europe and Thyssengas signed on 20 May to jointly develop a hydrogen link between Zevenaar (Netherlands) and Elten (Germany), targeting operational status around 2031; signatories included Hans Coenen (Gasunie), Thomas Hüwener (Open Grid Europe) and Dr. Stefanie Kesting (Thyssengas).
Infrastructure and scope
The project will interconnect national hydrogen networks and prioritise repurposing existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport, with the Rhine‑Ruhr region targeted in the initial phase and later expansion toward southern industrial hubs such as Ludwigshafen.
Strategic corridor
The Zevenaar–Elten border point is intended to link German industry and the chemical sector to Dutch hydrogen production, storage and import facilities, with the delta Rhine Corridor forming the Dutch route between the Port of Rotterdam and the German hinterland.
Implementation context
The signing took place during a Hydrogen Milestone Ceremony in Rotterdam marking completion of the first section of the Dutch hydrogen network; the agreement is presented as a step toward further national and European hydrogen connections to support energy security and industrial decarbonisation.
