A 25km pipeline connecting a 30MW green hydrogen plant to the TotalEnergies refinery in Leuna, Germany, has been commissioned for hydrogen transport following its conversion from natural gas use.

Part of the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park near Leipzig, the pipeline will deliver up to 2,700 tonnes of green hydrogen per year to the Leuna refinery once the facility comes online at the end of 2025.

The hydrogen will be produced using Sunfire alkaline electrolysers, powered by an on-site wind farm.

The project – which is being undertaken by Uniper, Terrawatt, Ontras and VNG – reached a €210m final investment decision (FID) in 2023.

Led by German gas network operator Ontras, the project team has disconnected the pipeline from the natural gas grid, reinforced it for hydrogen use, and completed an initial fill with hydrogen – allowing test operations to begin ahead of full commissioning.

The project will allow TotalEnergies to displace volumes of grey hydrogen used in its refinery processes.