Denmark Opens Capacity Sales for First National Hydrogen Backbone Pipeline
Energinet has opened capacity sales for Denmark’s first hydrogen transmission pipeline, offering up to 3.24 GW of transport capacity ahead of a planned 2030 start-up.
(P&GJ) — Denmark’s gas system operator Energinet has opened its first capacity sale for the Danish Hydrogen Backbone 1 (DHB1), marking a key step toward commercial commitments for the country’s initial hydrogen transmission pipeline.
Capacity bookings opened Jan. 30, 2026, and will remain available through Dec. 1, 2026, with pipeline service scheduled to begin at the end of 2030. The DHB1 system is designed to transport hydrogen from western Denmark toward Germany, forming the first segment of Denmark’s planned national hydrogen network.
Energinet is offering approximately 3.24 gigawatts (GW) of hydrogen transport capacity on a higher heating value basis, equivalent to about 2.7 GW on a lower heating value basis. Capacity will be available from Dec. 31, 2030, through Jan. 1, 2046, according to project documentation.
The capacity sale is being conducted through the PRISMA platform. Market participants must register on PRISMA and notify Energinet of their intent to book hydrogen capacity. Registration opened Nov. 24, 2025, and the final deadline to register is Oct. 30, 2026.
Under Denmark’s political framework for hydrogen infrastructure development, the project must meet a minimum long-term booking threshold. Total contracted capacity must reach 500 megawatt-hours per hour (MWh/h) on a lower heating value basis—about 590 MWh/h on a higher heating value basis—for both entry and exit points for 10 consecutive years between 2031 and 2040. The requirement must be met each year, not averaged over time.
Energinet expects the DHB1 pipeline to have a technical capacity of roughly 3.6 GW, with 10% reserved for short-term capacity products, which are excluded from the current capacity sale. Market participants will be able to track remaining available capacity in real time through PRISMA.
The Danish Hydrogen Backbone is intended to support future hydrogen exports and cross-border flows, linking Danish production—particularly hydrogen derived from renewable power—to demand centers in Germany and the broader European market.