The operator of the Danish gas transmission system, Energinet, recently chose consulting engineering company COWI to prepare a FEED study that will form the basis for Energinet’s final investment decision to establish the very first hydrogen infrastructure in Denmark.

Among other things, FEED (front-end engineering and design) includes identifying the optimum pipeline route, outlining the overall system design and clarifying the finances of the construction project. If the project is realised, COWI will also assist with the detailed design.

Related news: One step closer to a Danish hydrogen backbone

”We are immensely proud to be part of this project that is vital to the green transition. The export of hydrogen is necessary to realise Denmark’s vast Power-to-X projects – which, in turn, are crucial to upscaling the offshore wind farms in the North Sea. We hope this will put renewed speed into an otherwise hesitant transition.” Klaus Winther Ringgaard, Senior Vice President of COWI’s Energy International unit

COWI has already started on the assignment together with Energinet. In Denmark, the pipeline – nicknamed ‘the Danish hydrogen backbone’ – will connect a hydrogen storage facility and several producers, which are at an advanced stage of planning large-scale hydrogen productions based on green electricity across Jutland.

According to the plan, the Danish hydrogen backbone will connect to the large European hydrogen grid at the German border, and the respective national gas transmission operators are planning to expand the European grid. The project in Jutland will be one of the first large phases of the so-called European Hydrogen Backbone to be established, which, by 2030, will consist of a total of 31,000 km of hydrogen pipeline and span the entire continent.

Energinet’s adviser was selected few weeks after a political agreement in April provided the framework for financing a new Danish hydrogen infrastructure. Now that the technical and regulatory aspects are in place, Energinet can proceed with its efforts to mature it.

“The contract takes us one step closer to a design for our piped infrastructure in Denmark. Building on technical analyses, the FEED study will result in an updated cost estimate for the piped infrastructure. That is the prerequisite for the next steps, and I’m delighted that we’ve kicked off the study.” Michael Linnemann Pedersen, Head of the Hydrogen Department at Energinet

The Danish waters have the potential to produce enough green electricity to meet the demands of 30 million households. Much of this energy can be converted into green hydrogen, which can either be used to create fuels for shipping and aviation or exported directly to Germany, which is seeing a demand for green hydrogen, especially within the heavy industries. Consequently, the Danish hydrogen backbone will make a substantial contribution to vital CO₂ reductions in Denmark and the rest of Europe.