Denmark doubles down on hydrogen exports to Germany

LONDON (ICIS)–Denmark looks to be aiming even further towards renewable hydrogen exports to Germany in a report released 12 May produced by transmission system operators (TSOs) Energinet and Gasunie.

Denmark aims to have between 4GW and 6GW of electrolysis capacity online by 2030, powered via offshore wind turbines to facilitate both domestic use and exports to Germany. Production by the end of the decade could therefore reach 15TWh, with potential to increase to as much as 98TWh by 2050, the report said.

The report also noted that Denmark could have a 90% export share of its domestic renewable hydrogen production.

Data from ICIS Power Horizon Forecast puts Danish hydrogen demand at 2.10TWh in 2030 and at 8.35TWh by 2050, some way behind the German figures over the same time frame of 88.21TWh and 243.96TWh respectively, indicating both the potential for Denmark to export large volumes and Germany’s need to import.

The two countries signed a joint declaration of intent on the cooperation on renewable hydrogen and the realisation of a land-based cross-border hydrogen pipeline in late March.

The pipeline, connecting northern Germany and western Denmark, is slated to be operational by 2028, with about 350km in Denmark and 200km in Germany currently on the drawing board.

In Denmark, designated hydrogen infrastructure will be built, with the bulk of the infrastructure in Germany based on repurposing existing methane infrastructure.

Germany, according to its National Hydrogen Strategy, is expecting hydrogen demand to reach 90-110TWh/year by 2030 and is set to import the vast majority of the hydrogen used.

Indeed, the report said that Germany is due to import over 500TWh of renewable hydrogen by 2050, with Germany’s hydrogen demand due to be served by one-third of domestic production and imports making up the rest.

The Danish Energy Agency announced 19 April the launch of a support scheme for renewable hydrogen production, allocating of 1.25bn DKK (€168m) for the first auction round with a maximum subsidy of €1.93/kg.

Successful bidders are awarded their subsidy for 10 years, with support given for each unit of hydrogen produced.