ENGIE Launches mosaHYc Hydrogen Pipeline Project

The ENGIE Group announced the launch of its mosaHYc hydrogen pipeline project, which aims to convert 90 km of gas pipelines to transport hydrogen between the Moselle region of France and Saarland, Germany. Total investment in the project amounts to €110 million, with €40 million contributed by GRTgaz—an independent subsidiary of ENGIE Group. GRTgaz also announced the final investment decision (FID) for the mosaHYc project with its partner, CREOS Deutschland.

“The mosaHYc project has a strategic value as the first Franco-German link, paving the way for the development of a wider European hydrogen network,” said Cécile Prévieu, EVP of Networks, ENGIE. “This project will accelerate the development of a renewable, low-carbon hydrogen market in Europe. It also contributes to our goal of 700 km of hydrogen-dedicated transport networks by 2030.”

CREOS Deutschland will develop 40 km of the pipeline in the German region and GRTgaz will manage the 50 km French section of mosaHYc. The converted hydrogen pipeline will interconnect the French and German towns of Völklingen, Perl, Bouzonville, Carling, and Saint Avold. The FID enables the launch of the administrative authorizations phase, followed by the construction and network conversion phases, with final commissioning planned for 2027.

Path of mosaHYc hydrogen pipeline; Image Credits: GRTgaz

mosaHYc will first be applied to a Saarland-based steelmaking site in Dillingen, Germany, operated by the Stahl Holding Saar group. The pipeline conversion project will boost the economic and industrial appeal of participating regions, as well as help both countries to meet their decarbonization targets in mobility and industry.

The mosaHYc project represents one form of hydrogen infrastructure expansion on a national and international level, and Dr. Jeff Goldmeer, Global Hydrogen Leader at GE Vernova, spoke a bit about the United States’ hydrogen infrastructure efforts during an interview at POWERGEN 2024.

He referenced the DOE’s plan for seven hydrogen hubs across the country: “These hubs are all about supply and demand—how to make and use hydrogen,” Goldmeer said. “If they are successful, in 10-15 years you’re going to see the large-scale production of hydrogen not just in the Gulf Coast but lower-carbon intensity hydrogen in different parts of the United States.”

The ENGIE Group is involved in an additional hydrogen undertaking called the HYFLEXPOWER project. A consortium comprised of Siemens Energy, ENGIE Solutions, Centrax, Arttic, the German Aerospace Center, and four European universities conducted the project at Smurfit Kappa at Saillat-sur-Vienne in France. HYFLEXPOWER produces, stores, and re-electrifies 100% renewable hydrogen that is produced by a 1-MW electrolyzer onsite, and then stored in a 1-ton tank and used to power a Siemens Energy SGT-400 industrial gas turbine.

In 2022, an initial series of tests conducted by the HYFLEXPOWER project enabled the industrial gas turbine to operate with a blend of natural gas and 30% hydrogen. In October 2023, the power-to-hydrogen-to-power demonstrator proved that turbines with dry low emissions technology can be fueled with up to 100% hydrogen as well as with natural gas and blends in between.

"At ENGIE, we are very proud of this world first,” said Frank Lacroix, Executive Vice President of Energy Solutions at ENGIE. “The HYFLEXPOWER project [has enabled] collaboration among several European partners, testing of technologies, and prospects for the use of renewable hydrogen in the industrial sectors most difficult to decarbonize. We look forward to continuing this decisive work for the future of a decarbonized industry with our partners.”