Cross-border transportation of hydrogen: RHYn Interco connects France and Baden-Württemberg

Together with the distribution system operator badenovaNETZE and the French gas infrastructure operator GRTgaz, we, terranets bw, are working on a cross-border transport network for hydrogen: RHYn Interco. By building the necessary hydrogen infrastructure, which is based to the greatest possible extent on the conversion of existing gas pipelines, we will connect the South Baden region in Baden-Württemberg with the Grand Est region in France from 2029.

Data and facts

from 2029

connecting Freiburg i.B. area

from 2035

extending to Offenburg/Kehl

100 %

hydrogen transport

approx.75 %

repurposing of existing gas pipelines

RHYn Interco – a cross-border connection

RHYn Interco is to connect industrial customers in Baden-Württemberg with the Grand Est region in France from the year 2029. It is planned for the hydrogen network to then be extended to the Offenburg and Kehl area from the year 2035.
The Franco-German hydrogen project derives its name from this cross-border connection across the Rhine: "RHYn" is an acronym for "Rhine HYdrogen Network" and "Interco" stands for "Interconnection" in the sense of "mutual connection".

[Translate to English:] terranets bw: RHYn Interco – eine grenzübergreifende Verbindung

[Translate to English:] terranets bw: RHYn Interco ist Teil des deutschen Wasserstoffkernnetzes

RHYn Interco is part of the German core hydrogen network

By 2032, a 9,700-kilometre hydrogen transport network is to be created that will connect production and consumption hubs.
RHYn Interco will connect the Freiburg i. B. area with hydrogen production in France as the first one hundred per cent hydrogen network in Baden-Württemberg.

Repurposing with potential, step by step

Step 1: Connecting the Freiburg i. B. area from 2029

Industrial customers of badenovaNETZE near Freiburg i. B. will be connected by constructing new pipeline to France and repurposing existing gas pipelines. A new, approximately 15-kilometre-long hydrogen pipeline built by terranets bw will create a connection to France and will therefore cross the Rhine between the Fessenheim area on the French side and the Bad Krozingen area on the German side. The newly constructed pipeline will be connected to an existing, approx. 20-kilometre-long gas pipeline owned and operated by terranets bw that stretches to March-Buchheim. This pipeline will be repurposed for transporting hydrogen. Customers will be connected via the badenovaNETZE network in the Freiburg i. B area.

Step 2: Connecting Offenburg/ Kehl from 2035

By repurposing an additional section, the hydrogen network can be extended from Freiburg i. B. to Offenburg, connecting further industrial and mobility customers. By repurposing an existing 60-kilometre-long gas pipeline owned and operated by terranets bw, the hydrogen network can be extended to the Offenburg area. Hydrogen pipeline constructed by badenovaNETZE will connect customers to the Rhine port in Kehl.

[Translate to English:] RHYn INTERCO: Ein Wasserstoff-Projekt von badenova und terranets bw

Survey on hydrogen requirements

From September 18, 2023 to November 17, 2023, the project partners terrantes bw, GRTgaz and badenovaNETZE conducted a survey on hydrogen demand and production potential in the Southern Upper Rhine region (Germany) and the Grand Est region (France).

The project partners' survey of interest was aimed specifically at companies in the Southern Upper Rhine region (Germany) and Grand Est (France) that are planning to produce or purchase hydrogen in large quantities. Specifically, on the German side, the rural and urban districts of Freiburg, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Emmendingen and Ortenau were addressed.

More information

Our project partners

All project partners are responsible for the conversion or new construction of pipelines in their respective grid areas. The French gas transport network operator GRTgaz is implementing the hydrogen network in the Grand Est region (France) with its "RHYn” project. terranets bw and badenovaNETZE are taking over new construction and conversion pipelines in South Baden (Germany) with "RHYn Interco”.

This will give the Upper Rhine region access to a pipeline network in Baden-Württemberg that will transport 100 percent hydrogen. Hydrogen produced in France and imported hydrogen can thus be supplied to industrial and mobility customers throughout the region. As a result, CO₂ emissions can be sustainably reduced in the long term.

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Information brochure German
Information brochure German
Information brochure German
Information brochure English
Information brochure English
Information brochure English