MosaHYc

With the infrastructure project mosaHYc (moselle-saar-hydrogen-conversion), the distribution network operators Creos (Germany) and GRTgaz (France), in cooperation with the energy company Encevo (Luxembourg), want to establish an approximately 100-kilometre-long hydrogen pipeline in the Grande Région.  About 70 kilometres of existing gas pipelines, some of which are out of service, are to be converted into hydrogen pipelines. An additional construction of about 30 kilometres of hydrogen pipelines will create a first hydrogen island network.

Specifically, existing pipelines in the area of Völklingen (Germany), Carling (France), Bouzonville (France) and Perl (Germany) will be examined for their suitability as hydrogen pipelines. A major new construction will be built from Bouzonville in the direction of Dillingen. The island network will provide a capacity of up to 120,000 m3/h, depending on the maximum operating pressure. The pipeline network is scheduled to be commissioned in 2027. In 2030, the transport of about 60,000 t of hydrogen per year is expected. In the long run, the project paves the way to accelerate the development of an interregional market for hydrogen.

As a project between France, Germany and Luxembourg, mosaHYc considers itself as a European and cross-border pioneer project in the Grande Région within Saarland, Grande Est and Luxembourg to provide a first and exemplary infrastructure for the cross-border transport of hydrogen. Thus, mosaHYc represents the essential link to bring hydrogen producers and users together in this region:  mosaHYc allows, potential hydrogen producers to safely feed in their volumes and hydrogen consumers to safely receive the quantities of hydrogen they need for their processes.

mosaHYc fits in with the European Commission’s hydrogen strategy: the aim is to create a carbon-neutral European economy in the long term. To achieve this, a single approach is not sufficient, but the coupling of all sectors is necessary. With the mosaHYc infrastructure, hydrogen can be made available as a fuel and energy carrier for industry, mobility, reverse power generation and heat in the Greater Region.

mosaHYc is  a good example of a cross border hydrogen infrastructure project. This regionally distinguished, European networking is also needed on a larger scale: Since the demand for hydrogen in the future cannot be met locally alone, it is all the more important to ensure the future import of required green hydrogen from more distant countries as well. Then the supply of hydrogen in the Grande Région will also be secured in the long term, when new technologies based on hydrogen are increasingly introduced and the demand for hydrogen grows. For the Grande Région, mosaHYc is therefore the nucleus that enables the connection to the European Hydrogen Backbone network.