EQUANS has started the production of induction bends destined for a new gas pipeline in Germany. The pipeline will eventually be used to transport hydrogen.
Switching to green energy is a major challenge for industry, and for the automotive sector in Germany in particular. In Wolfsburg, which is home to one of the main German car manufacturers, power plants are being converted to switch from coal to natural gas in the short term, and then to hydrogen at a later date. In order to supply energy to these power plants, network company Gasunie has commissioned EQUANS to produce curved bends using induction bending. Gasunie specialises in managing and maintaining the infrastructure for the large-scale transportation and storage of gas in the Netherlands and the northern part of Germany.
Transition from coal to natural gas
The German car manufacturer is converting its power plants in Wolfsburg and switching from coal to natural gas. The new gas pipeline will supply energy to the car manufacturer’s production facility. Gasunie has therefore commissioned EQUANS to provide induction bends for hydrogen-ready pipes that can be used for gas, and converted for hydrogen in the future.
Expertise in induction bending
EQUANS has started manufacturing and coating 422 x 16-inch diameter induction bends for this pipeline in Germany. They are being produced at our workplace in Grimbergen, which sends out thousands of bends for projects all over the world every year. EQUANS has been specialising in hot pipe and tube bending for gas and oil pipelines, renewable energy and major infrastructure works, etc. for almost 50 years. These 422 bends will be produced using induction bending, a process developed by our experts in Grimbergen to manufacture high-quality pipe bends. Induction bending has lots of advantages, especially in terms of flexibility – the angle and radius of the bend – and precision. EQUANS has three induction production lines and a large number of welding, cutting and drilling machines with the latest technology in Grimbergen, which enable us to offer full prefabrication of complex, high-pressure piping systems.
Reduction of CO₂ emissions
The power plants’ transition from coal to natural gas will reduce carbon dioxide emissions for the car factory in the long term. This project therefore fits in with the EQUANS strategy of guiding companies through their low-carbon transition and helping to reduce energy consumption, make installations more efficient, and limit CO₂ emissions as much as possible.
