doing hydrogen: GASCADE and ONTRAS to launch hydrogen hub for Eastern Germany
From 2026, a hub for climate-neutral hydrogen is to be established in Eastern Germany / Initial grid to cover 475 kilometers of pipelines
KASSEL/LEIPZIG. In the doing hydrogen project, the two transmission system operators GASCADE and ONTRAS plan to set up a strong platform for the hydrogen industry in Eastern Germany. doing hydrogen will support the German hydrogen industry and is, to date, the biggest planned hydrogen project in Eastern Germany.
doing hydrogen forms a platform linking projects from innovative producers, transmission system operators and large consumers. From 2026, a hub for climate-neutral hydrogen (H2) is to be established in Eastern Germany. The H2 transport system that GASCADE and ONTRAS want to set up will serve as a connecting element.
Around two thirds of this transport system will be formed through the conversion of the existing natural gas infrastructure and a third through the addition of new H2 pipelines. This will produce an initial grid totaling 475 kilometers in length and interconnecting the production and consumption points in Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin.
The relevance of the project was also recognized by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs. doing hydrogen made it onto the shortlist of projects that have applied for IPCEI funding (Important Project of Common European Interest, in other words, important future European hydrogen projects).
GASCADE Managing Director Christoph von dem Bussche explains: “Together, we can initiate the rapid establishment of a hydrogen industry in Eastern Germany. With an initial grid of 475 kilometers, we can swiftly build up large H2 capacities and also expand internationally.”
The doing hydrogen project represents the connecting platform and is open to expansion both through individual new partners and for links with other projects. “Different projects and regions provide us with an intensive exchange to be able to exploit synergy potential and pursue links to other infrastructure projects,” explains Ralph Bahke, Managing Director at ONTRAS. “That means we can effectively interconnect emerging H2 production and consumption centers and hence ensure supply security,” he adds.
Information will be available shortly on the project website: www.doinghydrogen.com
GASCADE Gastransport GmbH operates a gas pipeline network throughout Germany. The network company offers its customers cutting-edge, competitive transport services over its own long-distance high-pressure pipeline network of more than 2,900 kilometers in length in the heart of Europe.
GASCADE Gastransport GmbH press contact:
Uta Kull
Phone: +49 561 934 – 3636
ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH is a national gas transmission system operator in the European gas transport system based in Leipzig. ONTRAS operates Germany’s second-largest gas transmission system, with approximately 7,000 km of pipelines and about 450 interconnection points. The company links the interests of transport customers, dealers, regional network operators and producers of regenerative gases.
ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH press contact:
Dr. Ralf Borschinsky
Phone: +49 341 27111-2111
