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 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 km 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).

"Together, we can initiate the rapid establishment of a hydrogen industry in Eastern Germany. With an initial grid of 475 km, we can swiftly build up large H2 capacities and also expand internationally," said Gascade Managing Director Christoph von dem Bussche.

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," said Ralph Bahke, Managing Director at Ontras. "That means we can effectively interconnect emerging H2 production and consumption centers and hence ensure supply security."