The German gas operator said it completed the initial filling of the section of pipeline that forms the “north-south axis” of the joint Flow project. H2 View understands this runs from Lubmin to Bobbau in Saxony-Anhalt.

Rostock has been tipped as a potential key hydrogen import location for Germany, while Lubmin is set to host large-scale electrolyser installations.

In its entirety, the Flow project will be made up of 1,630km of pipeline, connecting Rostock, Lubmin, Schwedt, Berlin, Leipzig, Leuna, Erfurt, Ludwigshafen, Karlsruhe, and Stuttgart.

Work on sections connecting Germany’s east with the south west is expected to be completed by 2029.

It will also form part of the 9,000km hydrogen core network, aiming to connect all of the major hydrogen-producing and consuming regions around Germany.

Gascade started work on the 400km conversion earlier this year, reflecting the technical work, including addressing material compatibility, upgrading compressors and valves, and ensuring safety and monitoring standards, required to adapt existing infrastructure.

With this first section now converted, Gascade said the infrastructure is now “available” to the market. It’s unclear whether hydrogen is already flowing through it.

In response to H2 View enquiries, a Gascade spokesperson said, “We are in discussions with industrial partners who want to use the transport capacities. In addition, we have received numerous grid connection requests from the market.

“Interest is high, as the pipelines open up concrete decarbonisation options for the industry.”

“Converting existing natural gas pipelines with a diameter of 1.4 metres to hydrogen is a technical pioneering achievement,” said Ulrich Benterbusch, Gascade Managing Director.

“This project is a strong signal for the German hydrogen economy and the industrial location of Eastern Germany.”

German transmission system operators are set to begin capacity reservations for the hydrogen core network from 2026, allowing hydrogen producers, users, and traders to secure slots.