H2Med “It has positioned itself as the first green hydrogen corridor for Germany, as confirmed by authorities, operators and industry at the event.”H2Med is an example of European energy cooperationedited by Transmission System Operators (TSO) European supporters of this project.
ELEMENTGermany’s Transmission System Operator has signed a memorandum of understanding with Gas System operators in Spain (Enagás), France (GRTgaz and Teréga) and Portugal (REN). H2Med European green hydrogen corridor. This project, submitted to the European call for Projects of Common Interest (PCI) last December, includes a link between Celorico da Beira in Portugal and Zamora (CelZa) in Spain, and a maritime link between Barcelona and Marseille (BarMar).
The support of OGE and the relevant hydrogen transport infrastructure in each of these countries was realized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the Spanish Embassy in Germany during the event.
The Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action opened the event. Franziska Brantner; Deputy Director General for Energy of the European Commission, Mechthild Wörsdörfer; General Director of Energy Policy and Mines of the Ministry of Ecological Transformation and Demographic Problems of Spain, Manuel Garcia; Ambassador of Spain to Germany, Ricardo Martinez; Ambassador of France to Germany, François Delattre; and the Portuguese Ambassador to Germany, Francisco Ribeiro de Menezesas well as other authorities.
In the name of Transmission System OperatorsEnagás CEO participated in the round table “Introducing H2Med Together”. Arturo Gonzalo; President and CEO of REN, Rodrigo Costa; CEO of GRTgaz, Thierry Trouve; President and CEO of Teréga, Dominique Mockly; And Financial Affairs Director (CFO) of OGE, Frank Reiners.
Frank Reiners, OGE’s financial director, stated: “A water canal connecting Portugal, Spain, France and Germany represents more than a vital corridor For hydrogen import. It symbolizes a strong bridge to a sustainable future. It connects the most productive regions for hydrogen production with those where it is needed most, fosters international cooperation, harnesses the potential of clean energy to drive progress, and unites our countries in a common goal: achieving Europe’s climate neutrality target by 2050. ”.
Arturo Gonzalo, CEO of Enagás, noted: “The inclusion of OGE in H2Med is very important because, in addition to 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 also emphasized: “The Berlin event underlined the real need for H2Med to connect the supply and demand of green hydrogen in Europe. “We are talking about European cooperation, decarbonisation and energy sovereignty.”
In the words of GRTgaz CEO Thierry Trouvé: “H2Med represents an innovative initiative as the inaugural project of the world’s green hydrogen corridor. A country that unites many European countries. “This project represents Europe’s commitment to establishing a robust hydrogen market that aims to decarbonise both industry and mobility on the continent while ensuring reliable domestic supply.”
REN President and CEO Rodrigo Costa emphasized: “The H2Med project, which includes two connections between Portugal and Spain (CelZa) and Spain and France (BarMar), Key and vital for the green hydrogen corridor connecting the westernmost countries of continental Europe to central and northern Europe. This project and its national axes provide a route to competitive hydrogen and contribute to a more integrated and independent European energy market by combining a new energy vector for Europe’s decarbonization and energy transition and a valid tool for realizing flexibility in coupling the energy transition. Electricity sector under strong integration of renewable energies.
Teréga President and CEO Dominique Mockly said: “H2Med is not just a project, it is a visionary bridge to a sustainable futureIt is designed to support progress and energy sovereignty across Europe. “It connects competitive hydrogen production regions with areas in high demand, fosters international cooperation and promotes clean energy to achieve our common goal: Europe’s 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 showed their support for the development of H2Med as a major green corridor that will connect the Iberian Peninsula with northwestern Europe and allow renewable hydrogen to be transported from Europe. from production areas to peak consumption areas through the respective national hydrogen backbone networks.
Franziska Brantner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, emphasized: “Green hydrogen is at the heart 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 expansion into Germany. To this end, we are working with our European partners to create a sustainable and innovative European hydrogen network.”
Deputy Director General for Energy, Mechthild Wörsdörfer, representing the European Commission, said: “Hydrogen is an absolute priority for the European Union“We also need infrastructure, which is a key point and a great priority for Europe,” he said.
Manuel García, Director General for Energy Policy and Mines at Spain’s Ministry of Ecological Transformation and Demographic Issues, said: “The market is not possible if goods and services cannot be exchanged; For this to be possible, we need transnational infrastructures like the H2Med Project. H2Med is the best example of true European energy cooperation “And once operational, it will contribute to strengthening our energy security and decarbonising our industries.”
Advances in the development of H2Med
The H2Med project and the corridor-related projects of which it is a part are progressing positively in the qualification process. Projects of Common European Interest (PCI).
European Commission to publish proposed PCI list in November 2023It will be approved by Parliament and Council in early 2024. From then on, projects will be eligible to receive CEF-E funds for research and construction, allowing work to be accelerated to ensure construction starts from 2026 and becomes operational in 2030.
Support from the German industrial sector
Germany is actively trying to strengthen its hydrogen economy. According to the information submitted by Germany to the European Commission within the scope of the selection of Projects of Common Interest, for the year 2030; Hydrogen consumption, including its derivatives (ammonia, methanol or synthetic fuels), is expected to reach 130 TW/h. 50-70 percent of these will be covered by hydrogen imports.
H2Med will transport green hydrogen produced in Spain and Portugal and contribute to Northwest European countries, especially GermanyUp to two million tonnes, representing 10% of the total consumption target set by REPowerEU for Europe.
Philipp Steinberg, Director General of Economic Stability and Energy Security at the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, attended the roundtable meeting on “Vision of the German hydrogen market”; With Thyssenkrupp CEO Miguel Ángel López Borrego; Timm Kehler, CEO of Zukunft Gas and President of the Natural and BioGas Vehicles Association (NGVA); Deutsche Energie-Agentur (Dena) Managing Director Kristina Haverkamp and EWE AG Managing Director Stefan Dohler.