mosaHYc

In 2021, the gas network operators Creos Deutschland and GRTgaz, and the Luxembourg energy group Encevo created the "Grande Région Hydrogen" (GRH) economic interest grouping, which currently brings together 12 industrial operators from across the value chain.

The aim of this cross-border, multi-sector initiative is to accelerate current discussions on the creation of a hydrogen ecosystem and infrastructure, accessible to all, within the Greater Region, comprising the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate Länder in Germany, Lorraine (Grand-Est) in France, the Wallonia Region in Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The aim of the mosaHYc (Moselle-Saar-Hydrogen-Conversion) project is to:
 

• Reduce the carbon footprint of this residential and employment zone that is characterised by heavy industry and needs to decarbonise.
• Create an open transport network linking hydrogen producers with consumers.

To this end, GRTgaz is looking at:

• Converting a pipeline previously used to transport natural gas between Saint-Avold and Merschweiller.
• Constructing of the extensions needed to connect with the future hydrogen transport network in Germany.
• Constructing connection facilities for projected hydrogen production units in the municipalities of Saint-Avold and Carling.

To convert the existing pipeline, GRTgaz will have to:

• Replace a section of the pipeline between Diesen and Ham-sous-Varsberg.
• Divert the pipeline to bypass the town of Bouzonville.
• Replace the isolating substations in Téterchen, Grindorff-Bizing and Merschweiller. This will be the last substation before an initial connection to the CREOS Deutschland network and the Perl sector.

To connect with the CREOS Deutschland network, two sites will be built, one in Diesen and the other in Bouzonville. They will connect an initial link at Creutzwald for the arrival of hydrogen from Völklingen, and a second link at Heining-lès-Bouzonville to supply industries in the Dillingen basin.

The mosaHYc project is included in the draft EU list of projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest, dated 28 November 2023, published in the OJEU on April 8, 2024.

This project was funded by the French government as part of the France 2030 programme run by ADEME, the French environment and energy management agency.

Uses of hydrogen

Its initial use will be industrial, for the region’s steelworks, particularly at Dillinger Hütte (Germany).
 

First steps

• August 2021: creation of the European Economic Interest Grouping entitled “Grande Région Hydrogène” (GRH).
• June 2022: completion of the feasibility study (subsidised by ADEME Grand-Est).
• September 2022: launch of baseline studies
• May 2023: winning project in ADEME’s “Hydrogen technology building blocks and demonstrators” call for projects (financed by the Government as part of the France 2030 Programme), supporting the conversion demonstration.
• December 2023: investment decision

Next steps

• Submission of applications for the administrative authorisations required for constructing, converting and operating hydrogen pipeline facilities.
• Planned commissioning date: T4 2027

Network dimensions

• Length: ~94 km
• Maximum capacity France - Germany : 5.5 GWh/day

Environmental impact of the project

According to an initial assessment, this project could prevent the emission of 0.7 Mt CO₂eq/year in key industrial sectors.

Public information meetings

GRTgaz held two public information meetings on the mosaHYc project, on 17 January 2024 in Bouzonville and on 1 February 2024 in Diesen.

Three other public information meetings will take place on the following dates: 

• 4 December 2024 in Bouzonville
• 11 December 2024 in Creutzwald
• 18 December 2024 in Diesen

Joint consultations

Several public consultation meetings have been held by the two producers:

• VERSO ENERGY  for its “CarlHYng” project
• GazelEnergie for its “Emil’Hy” project