The potential of green hydrogen for decarbonisation
Nov 27, 2023
Innovative
Hydrogen transport will play a crucial role in the development of a value chain around this new energy vector that joins a wide range of available renewable energies to contribute to a net-zero horizon.
The European Union is committed to the development of corridors that transport hydrogen from the areas where this energy is produced to the places where it is consumed. Although there are different forms of transport, the hydrogen pipelines are positioned as one of the most efficient forms of transport in terms of capacity, safety and sustainability.
The REPowerEU plan sets a 2030 consumption target of 20 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen in Europe, of which 10 million tonnes must be produced domestically.
And while some countries in Europe have full access to the renewable resource for the production of this energy carrier, it does not always coincide with those places that need this hydrogen. This European strategy therefore recognises the need to develop renewable hydrogen supply corridors, which will play a key role in matching supply and demand within the EU, while contributing to security of supply, energy independence and energy transition.
Spain possesses multiple strengths that could enable it to become a benchmark in both hydrogen production and exportation
REPowerEU identifies those which would be the five main European hydrogen corridors, and in this approach, the Iberian Corridor, known as H2Med ─ and promoted by Spain, Portugal, France and Germany─ is strategic.
In this context, Spain possesses multiple strengths that could allow it to become a reference in both hydrogen production and exports: a large renewable generation capacity, an excellent geographical position and climate, a robust gas infrastructure network, which could be the starting point for the future hydrogen network, and a growing domestic demand, with a chemical and petrochemical industry consolidated as a potential consumer of this hydrogen.
H2Med has been included in the list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) of the European Union in November 2023 and will link the Iberian Peninsula with the rest of the European Union, with connections to Portugal from Zamora and to France from Barcelona.
H2Med and the national networks of the different countries will form a transport system from Southern Europe to Germany
Enagás, together with the gas system operators of Portugal, France and Germany ─in order, REN, GRTgaz, Teréga and OGE,─ is the Spanish company participating in this project, an example of cooperation in European energy matters. It will have the capacity to transport up to 2 million tonnes per year by 2030, an amount equivalent to 10% of the consumption forecast for Europe as a whole in that year.
H2Med and the national networks of the different countries will form a transport system from southern Europe to Germany, which could supply renewable hydrogen from the Iberian Peninsula to North-West Europe.
Enagás, as Transmission System Operator (TSO), has been assigned as provisional Hydrogen Transmission Network Operator (HTNO), according to Royal Decree-Law 8/2023 of 27 December. In addition, it has developed a non-binding proposal to establish a basic hydrogen infrastructure network in the country. This network, planned for 2030, includes several axes and two storage facilities, also included in the European Union’s list of PCIs: the Cantabrian Coast Axis, Ebro Valley Axis, Levante Axis, Vía de la Plata Axis -with its connection to the Puertollano hydrogen valley-, the Guitiriz-Zamora Axis, and underground hydrogen storage facilities in Cantabria and the Basque Country.
In addition, during the celebration of the 2nd Hydrogen Day, Enagás presented the results of the Call for Interest process carried out between September and November 2023. This consultation, in which 206 companies participated with 650 projects, has confirmed the market’s interest in these future infrastructures.
Thanks to this network, Spain can take advantage of a historic opportunity to take the lead in the production, transport and export of what will be one of the most important vectors in the decarbonization of the economy, renewable hydrogen.