How will our infrastructure support the energy transition?

Our roots lie in natural gas transmission and transport, but we are working on going green. We are pioneers in the transport of carbon-free molecules and CO₂ to help eliminate greenhouse gases from the world. Driven by a deep-rooted sense of duty, we are striving towards a greener energy supply.

In addition to the conventional services for methane (CH₄), the basic molecule for natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), we are also developing transport and terminalling facilities for a wide range of molecules: hydrogen and derivatives, such as ammonia, CO₂, biogas and synthetic methane.

First hydrogen/CO₂ transmission infrastructure by 2026

Our approach to providing Belgium with the necessary hydrogen and CO₂ infrastructure is shaped in cooperation with our customers, the authorities, neighbouring operators, distribution system operators and other stakeholders.

In line with market needs, we aim to have the first hydrogen and/or CO₂ pipelines in Belgium ready for use by mid-2026. We expect that the initial commercial commitments and the legal and regulatory framework will underpin that initial infrastructure.

Building the CO₂ network

Building the H₂ network

Belgium as an energy hub

We are developing the infrastructure for and between industry in Flanders and Wallonia, and establishing connections with neighbouring countries. This will allow us to develop the appropriate backbone infrastructure and lay the foundation for sustainably cementing Belgium's role as an energy crossroads by making the country a hydrogen and CO₂ hub for Northwest Europe, which we are doing with our extensive network of pipelines.

What is the power of our pipelines for the energy transition?

Affordable

By deploying gas infrastructure to implement the energy transition, we save costs. A comprehensive study has shown that the use of renewable molecules in existing gas infrastructure in the EU will save society €217 billion annually by 2050 compared to an energy system that uses only a minimal share of such molecules.

Sustainable

Did you know that gas infrastructure provides society with energy that has the lowest climate and health impact of all fossil fuels? As we modify that infrastructure to transport growing volumes of carbon-neutral gas, it will serve as a highly efficient platform for a carbon-neutral energy system.

Reliable

Gas infrastructure has an enormous capacity to store and transport energy and, in addition, to supply large amounts of peak capacity. This gives the energy system the necessary resilience to cope with supplying large amounts of energy and peak capacity – for heating, electricity generation and to serve as a back-up for variable electricity generation using wind and solar.

Our expertise as added value

With our many years of experience in natural gas, we are joining forces with industry and other stakeholders to refashion our infrastructure into three complementary networks for transporting hydrogen, CO₂ and methane (natural gas), with carbon-neutral biomethane and synthetic methane gradually replacing methane.

In other words, we will deploy the gas grid for the transport of carbon-free energy carriers and for the circular use of captured CO₂. This will allow us to unlock new solutions for industry, which is fully committed to making its activities more sustainable.

More about CO₂

More about H₂