European utilities are moving away from the idea of repurposing gas pipeline networks for hydrogen. A survey of 91 companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland shows that most utilities no longer believe hydrogen will be viable for widespread use in existing gas grids.

歐洲公用事業公司正逐漸放棄將天然氣管線改造為氫氣計畫。一項針對德國、奧地利與瑞士共 91 家公司調查顯示,多數公用事業公司不再認為氫能可於現有天然氣電網中廣泛使用。

Instead, they expect to phase out pipeline networks and shift investment toward electrification and battery storage.

相反,預期將逐步淘汰管線網絡,並將投資轉向電氣化與電池儲能。

65% plan to reduce investments in gas grids.

65% 計畫減少對天然氣管線投資。

61% expect significant reduction or full decommissioning of gas networks by 2040.

61% 受訪者預計至 2040 年天然氣網絡將大幅減少或完全退役。

Only 4% believe full hydrogen conversion of gas pipelines is feasible.

僅 4% 的受訪者認為天然氣管線為氫轉化具可行性。

Two-thirds expect to double investments in electricity storage.

約三分之二的公司預計於儲能方面投資增加一倍。

The reasons behind this shift include hydrogen's high cost, low efficiency for heating, and the massive upgrades required to make pipeline networks hydrogen-ready.

此轉變背後原因包括氫成本高,加熱效率低,及需進行大規模升級,使管線達到氫氣就緒標準。

Regulatory reforms are emerging to allow utilities to decommission grids when demand declines. As natural gas demand falls and heat pumps and electrification grow, maintaining extensive gas networks becomes increasingly uneconomical.

各國監理機構正推動政策改革,以允許公用事業於需求下降時停用天然氣電網。隨著天然氣需求下降、熱泵與電氣化程度上升,維持廣泛天然氣網絡將缺乏經濟效益。

This signals a major transition: hydrogen will not replace methane in residential heating at scale, and electrification—supported by storage—will dominate future energy systems.

此變化象徵重大轉型：氫氣將不再被視為取代住宅供暖中的甲烷,而由儲能支持的電氣化主導未來能源系統。