Transporting the future: A methodology and case study for pipeline imports of hydrogen derivatives to Germany

Abstract

Germany's energy transition will require large-scale imports of hydrogen and its derivatives from regions with high renewable energy potential. While pipeline-based imports of hydrogen and ship-based imports of hydrogen derivatives are widely discussed, pipeline imports of liquid derivatives remain underexplored. Existing cost analyses in the literature often neglect fluid-specific properties, pressure losses, and geography. This paper presents HyTROM+, a GIS-based methodology for determining optimal pipeline routes and the levelized cost of transport for hydrogen, CO2, methanol, Fischer-Tropsch crude, and kerosene, considering both new and repurposed pipelines. The model integrates geographical factors, fluid mechanics, and techno-economic parameters to optimize the pipeline route and provide fluid-specific LCOT estimates. A case study demonstrates that it could be 10 times more cost-effective to transport liquid hydrogen derivatives via pipeline than hydrogen or CO2, even across elevated Alpine terrain. A sensitivity analysis identifies pipeline capital expenses, infrastructure reuse, and the weighted average cost of capital as the main cost drivers. The results highlight the strategic importance of considering pipeline imports of liquid derivatives in infrastructure planning and suggest that repurposing existing oil and gas pipelines could offer substantial cost advantages.