Evaluation of Possible Network States in the Future German Hydrogen Network 2025 and 2030

Abstract

This study provides insights into possible future gas network states in the initial German hydrogen network by 2025 and 2030, as per the German transmission system operators Network Development Plan Gas 2020. Not only is the overall transport feasibility assessed, but also possible operating conditions in terms of pressures, flows and velocities. To that end, two data sets for the network topology by 2025 and 2030 were created. A heuristic, semi-random nomination generation is employed to generate 100 consistent steady-state source-sink nominations for both years, based on collected production/consumption bounds. The authors employ a so-called nomination-validation model (MILP-formulation) for the solution of the resulting transport problem(s). For the evaluation of pipeline flow velocities, the authors combine those solutions with a hypothesis on limiting flow speeds suggested in a German technical journal. The analysis exhibits feasibility among all generated nominations with respect to flows and admissible velocities.

Keywords: natural gas, hydrogen, gas network, network development plan, pipeline reassignment, national hydrogen strategy