The green hydrogen corridor project H2Med is entering the next phase: After receiving EU funding, construction work on two hydrogen pipelines in southern Europe will begin in 2026. From 2030, Europe's first H2 corridor will then transport 2 million tons of hydrogen per year from the Iberian Peninsula to northwestern Europe - especially Germany. The German transmission system operator OGE has now declared its intention to participate in the construction of the new H2Med pipelines.
H2Med is positioning itself as the first green hydrogen corridor for Germany. This was confirmed at the event "H2Med, an example of European energy cooperation". Transmission system operator OGE has now signed a memorandum of understanding with the transmission system operators of Spain (Enagás), France (GRTgaz and Teréga) and Portugal (REN) to promote the European H2Med green hydrogen corridor.
The project was submitted to the call for European Projects of Common Interest (PCI) last December and announced on the 60th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty. It includes a pipeline between Celorico da Beira in Portugal and Zamora in Spain (CelZa) and an offshore pipeline between Barcelona and Marseille (BarMar). The European Commission will publish its proposed PCI list in November 2023. It is expected to be endorsed by the Parliament and Council in early 2024. Projects would then be eligible to receive CEF-E funding for studies and construction. This would ensure a start of construction from 2026 and commissioning in 2030.
In Germany, hydrogen consumption, including its derivatives - ammonia, methanol or synthetic fuels - is expected to reach 130 TWh by 2030, of which 50-70% would have to be covered by hydrogen imports. Spain and Portugal are expected to supply northwestern European countries, especially Germany, with up to 2 million tons per year via H2Med pipelines. This corresponds to ten percent of the total consumption target for Europe set by REPowerEU.
With hydrogen to European climate neutrality by 2050
The "CelZa" link is planned for 248 km and is to have a maximum hydrogen capacity of 0.75 Mt. The hydrogen would be transported at a pressure of 100 bar. The pipeline will cost approximately €350 million. "BarMar" is the significantly more expensive project with necessary investments of about €2.135 billion. The 455 km long pipeline runs underground through the Mediterranean Sea at a pressure of up to 210 bar - at its deepest point at 2,600 meters. The maximum hydrogen capacity is 2 Mt.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding at the Spanish Embassy in Berlin concretized OGE's support for the project, as well as the infrastructures associated with hydrogen transport in the countries involved - Spain, Portugal, France and Germany. The corridor would allow the transport of renewable hydrogen from the production areas to the regions with higher consumption.
"H2Med is the best example of true European energy cooperation"
The event was attended by representatives of the EU, the German, French and Spanish governments, German industry and the aforementioned transmission system operators. It was opened by Franziska Brantner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection; Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Deputy Director General for Energy at the European Commission; Manuel García, Director General for Energy Policy and Mining at the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Change and Demographic Challenge; Ricardo Martínez, Spanish Ambassador to Germany; François Delattre, French Ambassador to Germany; and Francisco Ribeiro de Menezes, Portuguese Ambassador to Germany.
