Mr. Siemermann, we’re reaching you in the town of Leer, East Frisia. What makes this region appealing to the energy sector?The infrastructure here is already in place—especially with strong connections to gas suppliers like Norway, which have been expanding since the 1970s. In East Frisia and the surrounding areas, we now have the opportunity to make existing structures usable at a much higher level—and with a sustainable approach. Northern Germany also produces a significant amount of electricity from renewable sources, with wind power playing an especially prominent role in this region.
Your team primarily inspects gas pipelines. How much of your work now revolves around hydrogen?That share is steadily growing—we’re definitely seeing an increase. At present, hydrogen-related tasks account for around 30 percent of our work. But we’re following the trend: the many new pipelines connecting LNG terminals that are currently being built are already designed to accommodate hydrogen in the future. When existing systems are retrofitted or modernized, hydrogen is always part of the planning.
The European Hydrogen Backbone is set to link 28 member states by 2040. The estimated cost lies between 80 and 140 billion Euros. Where do you see the biggest challenges in a project of this scale?It's a question of both quality and capacity—not just in terms of engineering, planning, and construction oversight, but especially when it comes to the skilled workers “on the ground,” actually doing the physical work. At the moment, there’s a lot of investment going into other energy infrastructure projects, like electrification, so the resulting labor shortage will be one of the main obstacles to delivering the Hydrogen Backbone. On top of that, sourcing materials and machinery in the right quality is becoming increasingly difficult.
The Hydrogen Backbone project was initiated by 33 European providers. Do you feel the scale of the European collaboration in your day-to-day work?As someone in a leadership role, I occasionally get a sense of the broader scale. But if you’re on-site inspecting a single pipeline section, you might not immediately feel like you’re part of a 50,000-kilometer network. Much of what we do is very hands-on and focused on practical tasks like examining pipe segments or weld seams.
“The Hydrogen Backbone represents European democracy. With a pipeline running through Europe, everyone has the chance to play a part—and benefit from the system.”
What inspection methods do you use?For new pipeline builds, we start by reviewing the planning documents: What are the site conditions? Is the project feasible? We then issue an expert opinion and monitor construction on-site. Today’s inspection technology is highly automated and very efficient. We’re well-equipped with tools ranging from ultrasound scanning to drones. The final integrity and pressure test of the pipeline is what truly confirms whether it meets all requirements. During operation, we also use “intelligent pigs”—mobile robots that travel inside the pipes and detect any damage.
Why do we need a new network for hydrogen at all? Can’t we just use the existing natural gas infrastructure?Not without some adjustments. Every substance—be it natural gas or hydrogen—has specific properties. With steel, which is commonly used in gas pipelines, there’s a risk that hydrogen can penetrate the material and cause cracking. Pipeline operators must take targeted measures to counteract that. That said, hydrogen is fundamentally a controllable substance.
What are your thoughts as you look toward the future of the project?For me, the Hydrogen Backbone is a reflection of European democracy. Each country takes on a specific role and gains from the benefits. A sun-rich country like Spain can produce a lot of hydrogen from renewables in summer, while Denmark or Northern Germany can contribute during windy winter days. With a pipeline running through Europe, everyone has the chance to play a part—and benefit from the system. Hydrogen is a truly European issue. I’d be glad if we continued to tackle it together, as one.
