06.02.2025
Yesterday, the German press reported that Nord Stream 2 is planned to be reoriented to transport hydrogen.
I will note right away that from a communications point of view, this is an old narrative of hostile propaganda. It is worrying that it is rising from oblivion again. In order to return it there, I will leave here the arguments regarding the phantom nature of such a project.
So, Nord Stream 2 cannot be used to transport hydrogen for the following five reasons:
1. The steel material of the pipeline is not resistant to hydrogen embrittlement.
Why is this important?
Hydrogen penetrates the metal grid of the pipe body over time, which over time can cause brittleness of the steel and microcracks. In the future, emissions and leaks. If the pipeline were made of austenitic stainless steel, it would be possible to consider such an option, but the question of economic feasibility arises due to the high costs of capital construction of a pipeline of such length. Some will say that it is possible to transport using a conventional pipeline, yes, but this infrastructure will not work for long. Unless the inner walls are treated with polymers. On the one hand, this is also an extremely expensive investment, and on the other hand, it is practically impossible to implement such a coating on an already built pipeline.
2. The thickness of the pipeline walls does not correspond to the operating pressure that must be created to theoretically fill the Nord Stream-2 with hydrogen.
The fact is that hydrogen has a lower density than natural gas, therefore, to transport an equivalent amount of energy, a higher pressure (up to 100 bar or more) is required, and the pipes must accordingly have thicker walls and high strength.
3. Shut-off valves, valve assemblies and structural transitions are not ready.
Since the specified assemblies must be resistant to hydrogen, for example, made of fluoropolymers. It is impossible to fulfill such a requirement on an already built submarine pipeline.
4. Lack of telemechanics for leak control.
From the school chemistry course, we remember that hydrogen is the smallest molecule, it easily penetrates through microcracks, so sensitive sensors are needed to detect leaks. Otherwise, operational feasibility is lost. Therefore, sensors must detect leaks at a level of less than 0.01%, which is impossible to ensure in the conditions of a submarine pipeline of such length.
5. Special compression points.
Above, we mentioned the ultra-high pressures at which hydrogen can be transported over long distances. So, due to the low density of hydrogen, more powerful compressors are needed to create high pressure than those currently included in the Nord Stream-2 technological scheme. That is, it is necessary to redesign the compressor stations from the very beginning, where piston or membrane units should be provided.
Above I listed only five main reasons for the cloudiness of the reconfiguration of Nord Stream-2 for hydrogen transportation. Now imagine that each modernization will theoretically be implemented – then the cost of one cubic meter of hydrogen will be fantastically high, comparable to an ounce of gold.
Who needs such air fortresses? That’s right – enemy propagandists.
Why? To oppose the position to the proposal of the President of Poland, who recently declared the need to dismantle Russian underwater pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
Conclusion. Mr. Duda’s apt suggestion – these Russian underwater pipelines need to be dismantled.
At the same time, it is desirable to do this at the expense of the owner of this pipeline, because this complex of works can cost more than 5 billion euros – quite a bloodbath for the aggressor. A court decision is required for implementation. For example, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; a national court of Poland and / or the EU.
We will win!
