Leipzig / Copenhagen, January 20, 2026 – Danish transmission system operator Energinet is moving its first large-scale hydrogen transport project into the market phase. 

On January 30, 2026, the capacity sale for Danish Hydrogen Backbone 1 (DHB1) will begin. Registration and booking of transport capacities will be carried out via the European capacity platform PRISMA.

The Danish Hydrogen Backbone is the central infrastructure project for establishing a national hydrogen network in Denmark. It combines newly built and repurposed pipelines in western Denmark and is designed to connect green hydrogen production sites with industrial demand centres as well as export corridors towards Germany. Commissioning of the infrastructure is planned for 2030.

“The capacity sale is an important step in moving the Danish Hydrogen Backbone from planning into practical implementation,” says Christian Rutherford, Chief Economist, Hydrogen Development at Energinet.

“It will show whether there is sufficient demand for hydrogen transport capacity – particularly with regard to the connection to the German market.”

Registration and capacity booking will be handled via the PRISMA platform, which has so far been primarily used in the European gas market. By doing so, Energinet is applying established market mechanisms without transferring regulatory or commercial decision-making responsibilities.

"The ramp-up of hydrogen infrastructure will ultimately depend on whether projects are organised in a market-ready way", says Götz Lincke, Managing Director of PRISMA.

"By using an established platform, Energinet is relying on transparency, non-discrimination and processes that have already proven effective in the European energy market."

Capacity allocation with clear market signals

Capacity will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. At the same time, the capacity sale is linked to a politically defined minimum booking requirement: for both entry and exit capacity, a total of 500 MWh/h (LHV) must be booked annually for at least ten consecutive years. This is intended to provide planning certainty for network development while ensuring that the infrastructure reflects actual market demand.

Capacities can be utilised from the end of 2030. In practice, the booking obligation applies to the period from 2031 to 2040; bookings for up to 15 years are possible.

Relevance beyond Denmark

Due to its planned connection to Germany, the Danish Hydrogen Backbone has significance beyond Denmark’s borders. The project is regarded as a potential reference case for integrating hydrogen networks into existing European market structures – without proprietary standalone solutions and with clear, transparent booking rules.

About Energinet

Energinet is Denmark’s state-owned transmission system operator for electricity and gas. The company plans, builds and operates the national energy infrastructure and is responsible for developing the Danish Hydrogen Backbone as part of Denmark’s long-term climate and energy policy.

About PRISMA

PRISMA is the leading platform for marketing infrastructure capacities in the European gas market. Based in Leipzig, the company operates a cloud-based software solution connecting around 5,000 active users and more than 1,000 companies. The platform is being gradually extended for use in hydrogen markets.

Media Contact PRISMA

Constanze Hertel
Content & Relations Manager
constanze.hertel@prisma-capacity.eu
+49 151 16343658