German gas network operator Thyssengas and Dutch counterpart Gasunie have signed a joint development agreement to explore and build cross-border hydrogen pipelines, marking a major step in the integration of Northwest Europe's energy infrastructure.

Announced on Monday, January 5, the partnership focuses on converting existing natural gas pipelines to transport hydrogen between the Netherlands and Germany, with Initial plans targeting connection points at Oude Statenzijl in the Dutch province of Groningen and Vlieghuis in Drenthe.

The proposed network is designed to link Dutch industrial hubs, import terminals, and storage facilities with Germany’s industrial heartlands, specifically the Ruhr region’s manufacturing clusters and chemical plants in the Rhineland.

“The agreement reached enables transport not only via our infrastructure between the Netherlands and Germany, but also to and from Denmark,” said Helmie Botter, Gasunie’s director of hydrogen transport.

The initiative comes as Germany ramps up its "hydrogen core network," a planned 9,000-kilometer (5,600-mile) system. Thyssengas has already begun converting a pipeline segment between Vlieghuis and Ochtrup to feed into this national grid.

However, the project's ultimate scale hinges on market demand. 

While the agreement establishes technical standards and organizational roles, operators noted that the pace of utilization will depend on energy-intensive industries making long-term purchase commitments. 

Meanwhile, many firms are currently weighing hydrogen’s high production costs against long-term supply security.

The regional energy shift is already gaining momentum with German transmission system operators scheduled to begin capacity reservations this year, allowing producers and industrial users to book binding entry and exit points.

The deal follows progress by operator Gascade, which recently converted approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) of pipelines as Germany’s wider hydrogen network enters its initial commissioning and testing phase.