OGE is to build a pipeline network to enable the transportation of CO2 for sequestration and its reuse in a green circular closed-loop system to transport green hydrogen. The network will initially be 1,000km long with capacity to transport around 18 million tons of CO2 per year.

To prioritise the provision of green energy while reducing CO2, OGE – one of Europe's leading transmission system operators – and Tree Energy Solutions (TES), which recently announced a green energy hub for importing green gas into Wilhemshaven, Germany, have entered into a strategic partnership for developing a CO2 circular economy.

The pipeline network, starting from the green gas import terminal to be built by TES in Wilhelmshaven (pictured), will integrate important industrial, power and mobility locations around Germany. The commissioning of the first part of the network is expected from 2028.

Offering CO2 infrastructure to industries in Germany 

"To achieve our climate targets, we must invest in renewable energies and above all hydrogen, but also offer a solution to industries in Germany that need to capture and utilise their CO2 emissions,” advised Dr Jörg Bergmann, CEO of OGE. “This requires a CO2 infrastructure. We will offer these to all interested parties openly and at standardised conditions."

OGE and TES are in conversation with German steel producers, cement and lime producers, power plant operators, and chemical plant operators to transport CO2 via the new pipeline back to the future Wilhelmshaven green energy hub. Right from the start, the transport network will be equally open to other market participants.

Aiding industry’s decarbonisation and accelerating the energy transition

"The CO2 pipeline network supports the closed-loop circularity strategy, ensuring that CO2 can be kept within the TES cycle, and GHG emissions are avoided," stressed Paul van Poecke, Founder and Managing Director at TES.  "Via this project, the CO2 will be captured and re-used in a circular closed-loop system as a carrier to transport green hydrogen or as a resource in other industries.”

The carbon cycle strategy will significantly accelerate the energy transition in Germany and help the industry, power and mobility, sectors to achieve their decarbonisation targets. This requires a Germany-wide CO2 strategy and corresponding instruments.

TES is currently developing energy supply and import terminal locations in Germany, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, and the US to provide an integrated network of significant global scale. Initial production and export terminal locations are being developed in the Middle East and North America.