Evonik paves the way for climate-neutral hydrogen to Marl – 50 km pipeline completed
- Connection creates new opportunities for use in the chemical park
- Evonik pipeline experts connect the site directly to the supply route from the north
- Connection contributes as a building block to the GET H2 initiative
Marl. A significant step towards hydrogen supply in Germany has been successfully completed: Experts from the Essen-based chemical company Evonik have made a pipeline more than 50 kilometers long operational. The pipeline connection extends in several sections from Legden in northern North Rhine-Westphalia through the Marl Chemical Park to the Gelsenkirchen refinery site. Climate-neutrally produced hydrogen is considered key to the energy transition in Germany. The pipeline creates the technical prerequisites for this: It is one of the first connecting lines to the nationwide hydrogen core network, which is being gradually built up. The now completed connection also includes a section through which the fossil fuel natural gas previously flowed. A team from Evonik Pipelines has converted this section to the transport of hydrogen over the past few months.
The pipeline is part of the GET H2 Nukleus project, which aims to connect the climate-neutral production of green hydrogen in northern Germany with industrial customers in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. Evonik is driving this forward together with other companies from across the entire value chain of the hydrogen economy. GET H2 is an initiative of companies, municipalities, and institutions. Its overarching goal is to actively contribute to the development of an integrated hydrogen economy.
Andreas Cieslik, Head of the Pipeline Business at Evonik, says:
In almost two years of intensive project work, we and our partners have successfully converted a natural gas pipeline for hydrogen operation and built new sections.
“This is a success we are all very pleased about. The dedicated collaboration of all those involved made this possible. It is a special achievement that also underscores our innovative strength in the field of hydrogen infrastructure,”
For the Marl Chemical Park, the pipeline provides a new opportunity to increasingly use climate-neutrally produced hydrogen in the future.
Thomas Basten, Head of the Chemical Park, says:
The Marl Chemical Park is one of the largest chemical sites in Germany.
“The direct integration into the hydrogen pipeline is a great addition to the site’s already extensive hydrogen infrastructure and represents future-oriented, sustainable development,”
Evonik has completed work on the entire pipeline route from Legden via Marl to Gelsenkirchen on schedule, completing three tasks in the process: A former natural gas pipeline, approximately 41 kilometers long, has been converted to hydrogen. A new, approximately three-kilometer-long pipeline crosses the Marl Chemical Park. At the property boundary, it is connected to a new, approximately ten-kilometer-long hydrogen pipeline to the refinery in Gelsenkirchen-Scholven. The hydrogen pipeline enables the transport of green hydrogen, the production of which is based on several hundred megawatts of electrolysis capacity in northern Germany. The electricity required for this comes from renewable energy sources.
Basten emphasizes the dual role of hydrogen in the chemical industry, said:
Hydrogen has always played an important role for chemical companies in the production of fertilizers, paints, and disinfectants.
“In the future, it will also play an increasingly important role as an energy carrier, which can also be stored in this form. This will become increasingly important with the further expansion of renewable energy generation. With our commitment, we are resolutely driving forward the expansion of the nationwide climate-neutral hydrogen infrastructure.”
Currently, climate-neutrally produced hydrogen is only available in comparatively small quantities and is not yet price-competitive. The majority of the hydrogen required nationwide is still produced using processes that utilize fossil energy sources such as coal, petroleum, or natural gas. Projects, plans, and initiatives aim to create more capacity for competitively produced and climate-neutrally produced hydrogen. Ultimately, a significant price reduction can only be achieved by scaling the volume and the resulting imports.
The pipeline further strengthens the Marl Chemical Park’s role as a hub for hydrogen activities. Evonik recently announced the establishment of a new start-up: a new facility will combine CO₂ captured from the air with 200 tons of green hydrogen per year in an integrated process to produce green methanol. Evonik’s Rheticus research project is also based at the Chemical Park. It uses hydrogen in artificial photosynthesis to produce specialty chemicals from CO₂ with the help of bacteria in a pilot plant. The company is also investing a low double-digit million euro amount in Marl to build a pilot plant for the production of its proprietary anion exchange membrane, DURAION®. The membrane is a key component of AEM water electrolysis and has the potential to enable cost-effective production of green hydrogen. A hydrogen filling station is also located at the Chemical Park.
Evonik can contribute extensive expertise to the development of a nationwide hydrogen supply network. A team of experts is responsible for the planning, construction, operation, and monitoring of pipeline networks. The more than 170 employees at Evonik Pipelines currently manage pipelines with a total length of approximately 3,000 kilometers, through which gases and liquids flow for customers in the chemical and energy industries. As a company, Evonik has been involved in several hydrogen initiatives for years.
Hydrogen has played an important role in production at the Marl Chemical Park for 85 years. The site currently processes approximately 25,000 cubic meters of hydrogen per hour and is engaged in further potential development projects. These involve producing basic chemicals from hydrogen and CO2
in order to become less dependent on crude oil-based raw materials.
Basten, says:
The comprehensive know-how and extensive experience in handling hydrogen are available.
“We want to utilize all of this for the future-oriented and sustainable development of the site,”
Evonik: Leading beyond chemistry
Evonik, combining innovative strength with leading technological expertise, transcends the boundaries of chemistry. The Essen-based chemical company, active in more than 100 countries, generated sales of €15.2 billion and adjusted EBITDA of €2.1 billion in 2024. The common drive of its approximately 32,000 employees: to provide customers with a decisive competitive advantage with tailored products and solutions as a superpower for industry – and thereby improve people’s lives. In all markets, every day.
Legal notice
To the extent that we express forecasts or expectations in this communication, or our statements relate to the future, these forecasts or expectations of the statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary depending on changes in general conditions. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its affiliated companies assume any obligation to update any forecasts, expectations, or statements contained in this communication.
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Evonik paves the way for climate-neutral hydrogen to Marl – 50 km pipeline completed, source
