May 22, 2026 [Renewables Now]- Dutch gas transmission system operator Gasunie and the German peers Open Grid Europe and Thyssengas this week signed an agreement to jointly develop a cross‑border hydrogen connection between the Netherlands and Germany.

The parties plan to realise the connection between Zevenaar in the Netherlands and Elten in North Rhine-Westphalia around 2031.

The intention is to make use of existing natural gas pipelines wherever possible by repurposing them for hydrogen transport. The link between Zevenaar and Elten is seen as important for connecting the German industry and the chemical sector with hydrogen production, storage and import facilities in the Netherlands.

Gasunie said this marks its fourth agreement on cross‑border connections with Germany and Belgium.

The signing took place during the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam as the first section of the Netherlands’ national hydrogen network, a 32-kilometre pipeline connecting the Maasvlakte and Pernis in the Port of Rotterdam, was symbolically activated.

“The completion of the first section of the hydrogen network demonstrates that hydrogen is no longer a promise for the future, but tangible infrastructure that is already in place and ready for use,” said Gasunie CEO Willemien Terpstra.