The expansion of a sustainable energy supply in Hamburg is progressing rapidly. A key element of this is the crossing of the Süderelbe river by the HH-WIN hydrogen industry network. South of the Elbe, the innovative network is scheduled to go into operation by 2027 at the latest and supply the Elbe island of Hohe Schaar with environmentally friendly hydrogen, according to Hamburg's energy networks on 7 August.
Preparations at the Kattwyk culvert are currently in full swing. The existing natural gas pipeline, which runs about five metres below the riverbed of the Süderelbe, is being thoroughly cleaned and inspected for its new use. Its unique structure consists of two concrete-coated steel pipes running side by side: while one will continue to be used for conventional natural gas supply, the other will transport green hydrogen in the future. In this way, Hamburg is cleverly combining existing infrastructure with forward-looking technology.
„Making the existing pipeline suitable for hydrogen saves construction time and investment costs“, says Michael Dammann, Technical Director of Hamburger Energienetze. „However, we are currently checking the integrity of the decades-old pipeline section first to ensure that our hydrogen network runs just as safely and reliably as our other energy networks.“
A specialist company recently cleaned the approximately 450-metre-long culvert pipeline of residues and then carried out a comprehensive check of the condition of the material and safety. This was done using so-called pigging devices – elongated testing devices equipped with state-of-the-art sensors that are sent through the pipes. They examine the wall thickness of the steel and precisely record the state of corrosion in order to obtain a reliable picture for further use.
HH-WIN project: a sign of change
This measure also ensures the supply of natural gas. During the cleaning and testing processes, the supply unit in the port area was reliably maintained via alternative Elbe crossings. Experts from Hamburger Energienetze are currently working on evaluating the results of the extensive measurements and, if necessary, quickly initiating any necessary repairs.
With the HH-WIN project, Hamburg is setting a sign for change: in a few years, hydrogen at up to 25 bar will flow through the pipeline and supply the region with climate-friendly energy. The conversion of the natural gas pipeline near the Kattwyk Bridge is an important step towards a low-carbon industrial landscape.
