H2Med positions itself as the first green hydrogen corridor for Germany

2023-10-18 16:23:48

H2Med has positioned itself as the first green hydrogen corridor for Germanyas reaffirmed by authorities, operators and industry at the event “H2Med, an example of European energy cooperation”, organized by the Transmission System Operators (TSO) European promoters of this project.

TIMEthe Transmission System Operator of Germany, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gas System operators in Spain (Enagás), France (GRTgaz and Teréga) and Portugal (REN) to promote the H2Med European green hydrogen corridor. This project, submitted to the call for European Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) last December, includes a connection between Celorico da Beira in Portugal and Zamora in Spain (CelZa), and a maritime connection between Barcelona and Marseille (BarMar ).

The support of OGE, as well as the associated hydrogen transport infrastructure in each of these countries, has materialized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the Spanish Embassy in Germany during the event.

Participating in the opening of the event were personalities such as the Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Franziska Brantner; the Deputy Director General for Energy of the European Commission, Mechthild Wörsdörfer; the General Director of Energy Policy and Mines of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge of Spain, Manuel Garcia; the Ambassador of Spain in Germany, Ricardo Martinez; the French Ambassador to Germany, Francois Delattre; and the Portuguese Ambassador to Germany, Francisco Ribeiro de Menezesamong other authorities.

H2Med map. |

On behalf of the Transmission System Operatorsthe CEO of Enagás, participated in the round table “Promoting H2Med together”. Arturo Gonzalo; the President and CEO of REN, Rodrigo Costa; the CEO of GRTgaz, Thierry Trouvé; the President and CEO of Teréga, Dominique Mockly; and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) de OGE, Frank Reiners.

Frank Reiners, financial director of OGE, has pointed out that “A hydroduct connecting Portugal, Spain, France and Germany represents more than just a vital corridor for the import of hydrogen. It symbolizes a powerful bridge to a sustainable future. It connects the most efficient regions for hydrogen production with the regions where it is most needed, fosters international collaboration, harnessing the potential of clean energy to enable progress, and unites our countries in a common pursuit: achieving the European goal of neutrality climate by 2050”.

The CEO of Enagás, Arturo Gonzalo, has pointed out that “the incorporation of OGE into H2Med is key because, in addition to having the support of the Governments of Portugal, France, Spain and Germany, the TSOs of the four countries, We will work together to make the project a reality”. Arturo Gonzalo has also highlighted that “the Berlin event has highlighted the real need to have H2Med to unite supply and demand of green hydrogen in Europe. We talk about cooperation, decarbonization and energy sovereignty of Europe.”

In the words of GRTgaz CEO, Thierry Trouvé, “H2Med represents an innovative initiative as the inaugural project of the world’s green hydrogen corridor, that unites several European nations. “This project embodies Europe’s commitment to establishing a robust hydrogen market, aimed at decarbonizing both industry and mobility within the continent, while ensuring reliable domestic supply.”

The President and CEO of REN, Rodrigo Costa, highlighted that “the H2Med project, which includes the two interconnections between Portugal and Spain (CelZa) and between Spain and France (BarMar), is key and crucial for the green hydrogen corridor that connects the westernmost countries of continental Europe to central and northern Europe. This project and its national axes provide a route for competitive hydrogen and contribute to a more integrated and independent European energy market, incorporating a new energy vector relevant to Europe’s decarbonization and energy transition, and a viable means for the materialization of the flexibility in coupling the sector with electricity under a strong integration of renewable energies.”

In this regard, the President and CEO of Teréga, Dominique Mockly, stated that “H2Med is not just a project, but a visionary bridge to a sustainable future, designed to drive progress and energy sovereignty across Europe. It unites regions of competitive hydrogen production with areas of high demand, fostering international collaboration and promoting clean energy to achieve our common goal: the European goal of climate neutrality by 2050.”

A European agreement

During the event, representatives of the European Union and the governments of Germany, France and Spain, have shown their support for the development of H2Med as a large green corridor that will connect the Iberian Peninsula with northwest Europe, allowing renewable hydrogen to be transported from the production areas to the areas of highest consumption also through the associated national hydrogen backbone networks.

The Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Franziska Brantner, has highlighted that “green hydrogen is at the center of our decarbonization strategy in Germany. We have taken important steps to accelerate the development of the national Hydrogen core network (“Kernnetz”) and create favorable conditions for rapid and successful market growth. We strongly support the development of the Southwest Corridor with H2Med and its extension to Germany. To this end, we are working with our European partners to build a sustainable and innovative European hydrogen network.”

Representing the European Commission, the Deputy Director General for Energy, Mechthild Wörsdörfer, noted that “Hydrogen is an absolute priority for the European Union” and added that “we also need infrastructure, which is a key point, a great priority for Europe.”

On the part of the General Director of Energy Policy and Mines of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge of Spain, Manuel García, “no market is possible if goods and services cannot be exchanged; For that to be possible, we need transnational infrastructures like the H2Med Project. H2Med is the best example of true European energy cooperation and, when in operation, it will contribute to strengthening our energy security and decarbonizing our industries.”

Advances in the development of H2Med

The H2Med project and the projects associated with the corridor of which it is a part are advancing positively in the process to acquire the qualification as Projects of European Common Interest (PCI).

The European Commission will publish its proposed PCI list in November 2023, which will be confirmed in early 2024 by Parliament and the Council. From then on, the projects would be eligible to receive CEF-E funds for studies and construction, which would allow work to be expedited to guarantee the start of construction from 2026 and its entry into operation in 2030.

Support from the German industrial sector

Germany is actively seeking to boost a hydrogen economy. For the year 2030, according to the information provided by Germany to the European Commission in the context of the selection of Projects of Common Interest, Hydrogen consumption, including its derivatives (ammonia, methanol or synthetic fuels), is expected to reach 130 TW/h, Of those between 50-70% would be covered with hydrogen imports.

H2Med will transport green hydrogen produced in Spain and Portugal, contributing to the countries of northwest Europe, mainly Germanyup to two million tons, which represents 10% of the total consumption target for Europe set by REPowerEU.

The General Director of Economic Stabilization and Energy Security of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, Philipp Steinberg, participated in the round table “The vision of the German hydrogen market”; together with the CEO of Thyssenkrupp, Miguel Ángel López Borrego; the CEO of Zukunft Gas and President of the Natural & bioGas Vehicle Association (NGVA), Timm Kehler; the Managing Director of Deutsche Energie-Agentur (Dena), Kristina Haverkamp, ​​and the Managing Director of EWE AG, Stefan Dohler.