On 7 November, the partners of the H2med project called for expressions of interest for a transnational hydrogen initiative, which will run until 18 December. The aim is to get to know the needs of future users along the hydrogen value chain in order to optimise infrastructure planning.
Portugal, Spain, France and Germany are working together to connect the hydrogen infrastructure of the Iberian Peninsula with north-west Europe and contribute to the realisation of the Net Zero Industry Act targets by 2030.
Connection projects: CelZa and BarMar
The planned H2 corridor includes the CelZa pipeline between Portugal and Spain with a capacity of 0.75 million tonnes per year and the BarMar maritime pipeline, which connects Spain and France and can transport up to 2 million tonnes per year.
Both pipelines are part of the list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) published on 8 April 2024. This infrastructure is intended to strengthen southern Europe as a key region for hydrogen exports.
National projects and infrastructure measures
Portugal is planning a hydrogen export capacity of 0.75 million tonnes per year via H2med, while Spain is developing a core network of 2,700 km to serve as an export hub for renewable hydrogen.
France is expanding the HY-FEN project as a 1,000 km link from Marseille to the German border and is developing the HySoW project in the south-west of the country, which will provide access to storage facilities for additional hydrogen. In Germany, H2med will be connected to the „H2ercules“ project, part of the 9,000 km German hydrogen core network.
EU support and goals of the hydrogen initiative
With REPowerEU and the Net Zero Industry Act, the EU is aiming to use a total of
20 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030. The H2med projects CelZa and BarMar, which are part of the PCI list, underline the importance of hydrogen as a tool for decarbonising industry. The H2med corridor is supported by private and public funding and aims to support hydrogen production in Southern Europe for a sustainable future.
Interested stakeholders can submit their requirements until 18 December via the H2Digital platform. The results will then be presented. The H2med initiative thus provides a viable infrastructure for a sustainable hydrogen economy in Europe.
About the cooperation partners
Enagás operates an extensive gas network with over 12,000 kilometres of pipelines, three underground storage facilities and eight regasification plants in seven countries. In Spain, the company acts as the technical manager of the gas system and is developing the H2med hydrogen network to promote the energy transition and become climate-neutral by 2040.
GRTgaz is the largest gas network operator in France and operates the MEGAL network and LNG terminals through its subsidiary Elengy. The company is committed to a climate-neutral future by promoting low-carbon and renewable gas solutions and to the safe transport of gas for its 865 customers.
REN - Gasodutos, S.A. operates the Portuguese gas grid and is part of a group of companies that also includes the national electricity grid and the LNG terminal in Sines. The company is responsible for over 1,300 kilometres of high-pressure gas pipelines and is also active internationally in Chile and Mozambique.
Teréga is a gas network operator with over 75 years of experience in the south-west of France, operating more than 5,000 kilometres of pipelines and two large storage facilities. The company promotes the energy transition and pursues ambitious ESG targets, including a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
OGE operates over 12,000 kilometres of gas pipeline network in Germany, transporting natural gas, hydrogen and CO₂ and securing the country's energy supply. As a leading transmission system operator, OGE is committed to the energy transition and offers future-proof employment to over 2,000 employees.
(Source: gem. Presseerklärung von Enagás, GRTgaz, REN, Teréga, OGE)
