By Eugene Gerden, P&GJ International Correspondent
(P&GJ) – Germany plans to speed up building of new gas pipelines’ infrastructure within its territory and beyond, with the aim to ensure stable supplies of both gas and oil products for civil and military needs.
In recent years, Germany has achieved major progress in the development of its hydrogen pipeline system, but the country has also serious plans for a further development of its traditional gas pipelines’ network.
The recent ascension of Friedrich Merz as chancellor of Germany and the appointment of a new federal government means that Germany will continue further development of its hydrogen network, which will be part of its ambitious climate goals.
This despite the existing concerns of local environmentalists. Nonetheless, the German government plans on expediting the construction of new natural gas pipeline infrastructure.
According to experts of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany remains highly dependent on natural gas imports, mainly because of its minimal domestic production. Currently, the country continues its planned switch to hydrogen; however, the entire process may take years to complete. That means the demand for natural gas will continue to be high in the local market for years to come.
According to latest official data from the German government, natural gas provides nearly 20% of the energy consumed in Germany annually. As for domestic output, almost 95% of the nation’s natural gas requirements are imported.
German gas imports fell to 865 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2024 from 968 TWh in 2023, with Norway being the largest supplier, according to figures from the German regulatory office for electricity and gas Bundesnetzagentur. Germany consumed a total of 844 TWh of gas in 2024, which is 3.5% more than in 2023 (811.5 TWh).
The German gas network consists of the long-distance pipeline network with a length of 24,855 miles (40,000 km) and a distribution network of approximately 344,175 miles (555,000 km).
The expansion of the German gas pipeline network is outlined in the Gas Network Development Plan (NEP Gas), as drawn up by the German TSOs. It foresees the development of the gas network in Germany for the next 10 years. NEP Gas is updated every two years.
There are currently 16 natural gas TSOs operating on the German gas market. Twelve of these companies are members of FNB Gas. Other players include distribution network operators, storage operators and trading companies.
Most German pipeline operators expect growth in the pipeline sector in the midterm, however, much will depend on the volume of support, which will be provided by the new German federal government.
While there is no financial support for transmission operators (only a sort of insurance in case of the failure of certain projects), operators hope that state measures to speed up approval procedures will lead to more growth.
Frank Dietzsch, head of Regulatory Framework Gas Technologies and Energy Systems at DVGW, German Association for Gas and Water, said he remains optimistic regarding the prospects of the German pipelines’ sector.
According to Dietzsch, the German gas transport network is being developed continuously, which is confirmed by the existing national Network Development Plan.
In addition to building of new pipelines, Germany plans more active replacements of its existing pipelines’ network in the months to come, along with dismantling of old and outdated infrastructure.
“In the gas distribution grid, about 1% of the pipelines are replaced per year,” Dietzsch said. “Although there will be an increase in demand in the context of the hydrogen transformation, I don’t expect much new construction in the classic gas distribution sense.”
Despite the active building of new hydrogen transport infrastructure in Germany, many German analysts and environmentalists believe that natural gas will continue to flow through the pipeline for longer than the state and grid operators planned.
This is because green hydrogen is expensive and scarce. Also, the necessary quantities of green electricity for a sufficient hydrogen supply do not yet exist. Finally, hydrogen also places special demands on gas pipelines, which are made of a special hydrogen-compatible steel.
One of the most prioritized goals of the new German government in the pipeline sector will involve ensuring better protection of the entire pipeline infrastructure of the country. This is due to numerous incidents, such as the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline and the ever growing threats of attacks on critical infrastructure throughout the country.
As for Nord Stream 2, the 767-mile (1,234-km) natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany running beneath the Baltic Sea, delayed by Germany in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, there is a possibility it could be relaunched with the participation of American investors, according to recent reports of Financial Times and Bild.
The restart will be directly handled by a German entrepreneur Matthias Warnig, the former head of the Swiss company Nord Stream 2, which was supposed to be the operator of the project. The gas pipeline itself will be controlled by the U.S., allowing for U.S. control of supplies of Russian gas to Europe.
Military Pipelines
In the meantime, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, German authorities, together with the authorities of some Eastern European states and NATO, will consider the expansion of their pipeline networks for supplies of gas, kerosene and oil products used by the military as part of NATO’s existing Cold War Central European Pipeline System (CEPS).
CEPS currently ends in Bramsche, Lower Saxony, and in the Ingolstadt area of Bavaria. The North European Pipeline System (NEPS), which runs from Denmark, ends in German Hohn, Schleswig-Holstein. However, with the accession of Warsaw Pact states to NATO, the front has shifted eastward. Although the pipeline system has not yet been extended there, this would be a critical situation in the case of a possible military conflict in Europe.
The construction of pipelines and storage tanks have been planned since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These are intended to transport kerosene, diesel, and gasoline. It is expected that implementation of these plans will be significantly accelerated this year.
An expansion of existing pipelines’ systems, with a focus on Eastern Europe and the interconnection between individual pipeline systems, is currently considered a high task for all states involved.
According to an earlier report in the German magazine Der Spiegel, internal discussions among the participating countries have revealed that the pipeline systems may be “the backbone of NATO’s fuel supply but are also considered its Achilles heel.”
As for Germany, the country plays a key role in this project due to its central location. According to recent statements of representatives of the German federal government, the planned expansion of the pipelines’ network would be “the largest NATO-funded military construction project” in Germany. The project also involves the building of large-scale fuel storage tank facilities.
Plans call for the pipeline arriving in Bramsche, Lower Saxony, to be extended to Poland in order to close the gap to Eastern Europe. Another route to the Czech Republic is planned from the Ingolstadt area in Bavaria. Connecting the northern pipeline system to the central pipeline system is also being considered.
Pipelines are also planned in Poland and the Czech Republic to transport the fuel further east, for example to Lithuania, where the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) plan to station a brigade.
The entire construction period is estimated at 20 to 25 years, but the pipeline itself is expected to be largely completed by 2035, barring any problems. Complicating matters, however, include the need to run infrastructure beneath several rivers and through water and nature reserves. Furthermore, land issues must be resolved. Expropriation, or eminent domain, is also possible. P&GJ