Energinet and Evida complete Danish gas grid extension

Danish gas TSO Energinet has reported the pipeline connecting Lolland-Falster to the country’s gas grid is ready for operation.

The pipeline, three years in construction by Energinet and the gas DSO Evida, opens the way for the supply of gas to the business community in the Lolland and Falster islands, which are located to the south of Zealand, Denmark's largest island and the seat of the capital Copenhagen.

In addition, the pipeline should enable the supply of biogas from Lolland-Falster to other parts of the country.

"It's a big day when you reach the goal of a project of this size,” said Jeppe Danø, Deputy Director of Business and Market at Energinet and chairman of the project's steering committee of its completion.

“We have helped to connect Lolland-Falster to the Danish gas grid and thus paved the way for further development in the area.”

Have you read?
Wärtsilä inks contract to decarbonise power plant in Madagascar
Site visit: Injecting hydrogen into Portugal’s gas network

Initially, the pipeline will supply gas to Nordic Sugar's two factories in Nykøbing Falster and Nakskov, with work underway at the factories for receipt of the gas in time for this year's beet campaign – their peak season.

By switching from coal and oil to gas, the company expects to reduce its CO2 emissions significantly, as natural gas emits 40% less CO2 than coal.

In the long term, it will also be possible to connect local biogas plants to the pipeline, whereby the CO2 emissions will fall further.

Kim Søgård Berring Kristensen, CEO of Evida, comments that gas has an important role to play in the transition of Denmark's energy system, especially in an industry that cannot electrify its production.

“Lolland-Falster is now an integral part of the Danish gas system," he states.

The approximately 115km expansion of the gas system has been connected to the existing gas grid on Zealand at Everdrup.

Energinet has been responsible for the stretch from Zealand to Nørre Alslev on Falster as well as the three sea crossings, while Evida has been responsible for the remaining stretches from Nørre Alslev to Nakskov.