Strong Market Launch: Demand for Capacity in the Hydrogen Core Network Exceeds Expectations

The demand for transport capacity in the future hydrogen core network has already exceeded network operators’ expectations at the very start of the reservation phase. Market interest is a clear signal of the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Germany. The operators of the hydrogen core network launched the joint reservation phase on March 19, 2026.

"The fact that demand is already so high shortly after the start clearly shows how important the core network is for the market ramp-up in Germany. Together, we are laying the foundation for the development of supply chains and thus enabling long-term investment decisions in the H₂ market,” said Barbara Fischer, Managing Director of FNB Gas.

Since the launch, numerous reservation requests have been submitted, most of which have already received a positive response in the form of a reservation offer. Further requests are currently under review. The level of demand shows that companies along the hydrogen value chain are registering concrete needs at an early stage and are placing their trust in the development of a high-performance transport infrastructure.

As of now, a total of 32 requests have been submitted. In the clusters, entry and exit capacities of up to approximately 2.9 GW have been requested, as well as capacities of up to approximately 0.6 GW for cross-cluster transport (CCT). The earliest planned start of use is 2027.

The review of the requests is based on the capacities published by the network operators in the second market information package on March 5, 2026. In cases where the requested capacities exceed that published level, a structured process involving individual case-by-case review is applied. This procedure has proven effective: all requests reviewed so far have received a positive response.

Further market information will be provided at a later date.