German & French Officials Break Ground on Cross-Border Hydrogen Pipeline

Construction on Saarland’s first hydrogen pipeline officially began in Wallerfangen at the end of August, marking a pivotal milestone for green energy infrastructure in the Greater Region.

Grid operator Creos Deutschland GmbH hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in the district of Oberlimberg to inaugurate the project.

The joint launch event was attended by Political and business leaders from Germany, France, and Luxembourg to jointly launch the project.

Expected to run from Leidingen to Dillingen, the 17-kilometer German pipeline segment will form part of the broader cross-border initiative known as MosaHYc (Moselle-Saar Hydrogen Conversion).

Saarland Minister-President Anke Rehlinger called the ceremony a visible sign of a new chapter for the industrial state, emphasizing that establishing hydrogen infrastructure is essential to keeping local industry competitive while meeting climate goals.

The cross-border network relies on international cooperation between Germany and France.

While Creos handles the German segment, French network operator NaTran France is converting 20 kilometers of existing pipelines and laying 5 kilometers of new pipe extending from Bouzonville toward Leidingen.

Designated as an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI), the German section is backed by federal and state funding.

Creos Managing Director Rafael Sierra Garrido highlighted the collaborative effort, noting that cross-border partnerships offer a powerful symbol during challenging geopolitical times.

Managing Director Frank Gawantka added that the shift to hydrogen marks Creos’s second major network evolution, following its historical transition from coke oven gas to natural gas during the 1970s.

Following official planning approval in July 2026, pipe-laying and civil engineering operations are scheduled to span approximately 18 months.

Upon completion, the pipeline will serve as a crucial building block for an integrated European hydrogen network.

By linking with the German hydrogen core network and regional projects like HY4LINK and HYFEN, the system will ultimately carry imported hydrogen sourced from northern Germany, the Iberian Peninsula, Luxembourg, and Belgium.

Luxembourg Minister of the Economy Lex Delles praised the venture, stating that expanded hydrogen infrastructure strengthens supply security and industrial resilience across the region.

Once operational, the system will transport hydrogen directly from France into the Saarland industrial core.