Equinor Halts Hydrogen Export Plan to Germany

Norwegian energy company Equinor has decided to scrap its ambitious plan to export hydrogen to Germany, a project intended to facilitate the transportation of low-carbon hydrogen from Norway to help Germany reduce fossil fuel dependence. The termination is primarily due to economic feasibility concerns and a lack of market readiness for significant hydrogen imports, as confirmed by a spokesperson from Equinor. Although the hydrogen pipeline project has been halted, Equinor plans to continue developing hydrogen initiatives domestically and in other regions, while acknowledging the necessity of long-term commitments from buyers for future hydrogen export projects. The project was expected to cost tens of billions of euros, with the pipeline alone estimated at €3 billion. German energy company RWE stated that the plants could still be operational by 2030, depending on government support for construction. This decision may compel other stakeholders in the energy sector to reassess their hydrogen strategies and policies.