Danish electricity and gas grid operator Energinet and Gasunie Deutschland are moving forward with a plan to develop a pipeline that will start transporting hydrogen from Denmark to Germany as early as the end of 2028.

The planned infrastructure will include about 350 km (217.5 miles) of pipeline in Denmark and some 200 km in Germany, the two companies said in a study published on Friday.

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In Denmark, the focus will be on establishing new infrastructure, while in Germany, the emphasis will be on upgrading existing methane infrastructure. The capacity at the cross-border point will be gradually increased by introducing compression power.

The partners are also considering the potential integration of underground hydrogen storage facilities in Lille Torup, Denmark, and Harsefeld, Germany, to facilitate the reliable delivery of hydrogen to Europe’s largest economy.

Currently, Energinet is close to finalising a viability assessment for a hydrogen pipeline in the western region of Denmark. The focus is on Jutland where hydrogen production is planned to commence utilising onshore and offshore wind energy as well as solar power. The infrastructure will be linked to the German grid and hydrogen storage facilities in Northern Jutland and Germany.

The launch of a process to establish agreements for the utilisation of the infrastructure between the two countries is scheduled to occur by the end of this year.

In Germany, the cross-border pipeline should reach the industrial region of Brunsbuettel / Heide, Schleswig-Holstein, to supply the refinery, fertiliser and other industries, as well as future domestic production and consumption centres in the state and northern Lower Saxony.

Moreover, an offshore hydrogen network could also be included in the project in the future.

The two companies noted that the realisation of the initiative will require support from all stakeholders, such as producers, off-takers and traders of hydrogen as well as local and national authorities and communities.

The plan is in line with the agreement signed by the energy ministers of Germany and Denmark at the end of March.