Germany advances first North Sea hydrogen pipeline Aquaductus, ground surveys begin off Norderney

The Aquaductus pipeline, developed by transmission system operator Gascade through its subsidiary Aquaductus Pipeline GmbH, is designed to transport hydrogen produced by offshore electrolysers powered by wind energy in the German Bight to the mainland. The total offshore length is around 400 kilometres. In a first expansion step, a roughly 200-kilometre section will connect a wind farm northwest of Helgoland to the coast by 2030. A second phase will extend the pipeline to the edge of Germany's exclusive economic zone, the so-called "Entenschnabel" (duck's bill), where additional planned hydrogen wind farms will be linked and interconnections to neighbouring offshore hydrogen pipelines from Denmark and the United Kingdom will be built.

Route selection and environmental considerations

Gascade examined the entire Lower Saxony coast from Emden to Wilhelmshaven for possible routes and landing points. The preferred option now runs via the island of Norderney with a landfall near Hilgenriedersiel in the Aurich district. A Gascade spokesperson said that this combination offers the lowest expected impact on the Wadden Sea National Park. The regional development authority Weser-Ems in Oldenburg concurred, noting that alternative routes through the Außenems or the Jade fairway would have caused "significant conflicts", including dredging in the national park or disruptions to shipping. The authority waived a formal spatial compatibility assessment for the corridor.

Especially in combination with a route via Norderney, the least impact on the Wadden Sea National Park is to be expected here.

Ground investigations begin

Starting this week, ground investigations will take place at a few targeted points on and off Norderney and along the coast in Aurich. Sven Becker, managing director of Aquaductus Pipeline GmbH, described the work as the next important step toward realising the project. The surveys will determine soil and subsoil conditions to assess bearing capacity, with the company promising to proceed "as gently and efficiently as possible". The data will inform the final route alignment, choice of construction methods, and the safe, environmentally compatible implementation of the pipeline.

With the execution of the ground investigations, we are taking the next important step in the realisation of Aquaductus.

The data obtained is an essential basis for determining the route alignment, selecting suitable construction methods, and for the safe and environmentally compatible implementation of the pipeline project.

Local concerns on Norderney

The plans have stirred unease among residents of Norderney, where several power cables for offshore wind farm connections already run beneath the island and construction work is ongoing this summer. Mayor Frank Ulrichs wrote in a citizen letter in March that many islanders had approached him with questions and worries about the pipeline project. Their concerns include potential intrusions into nature, effects on tourism and campsites from construction sites and noise, and additional burdens from construction traffic.

The project very clearly shows a field of tension that affects us all. On one side is the energy transition and the necessary expansion of climate-friendly infrastructure. On the other side is the protection of our unique nature.

Next steps

The exact pipeline route must still be fixed in a formal planning approval procedure. The current ground investigations are a prerequisite for that process. Gascade aims to complete the first 200-kilometre segment by 2030, with the full extension to the Entenschnabel to follow later, linking up with international hydrogen infrastructure.