HE green hydrogen corridor will unite Barcelona and Marseille (BarMar) connecting the Iberian Peninsula and France is on the list 166 strategic projects What the EU can take in the future in the energy sector European financing It was approved by the European Commission on Tuesday. As expected, Brussels adopted the list of projects with which it aims to prepare the EU energy system for the future. “These important cross-border infrastructure projects will help the EU achieve its ambitious energy and climate targets,” the Commission said.
Projects will be benefited from simplified regulatory and permitting procedureswill be eligible for a faster environmental assessment and EU financial support from the Connecting Europe Fund. Listing will allow projects to be completed faster and could contribute to doubling the capacity of the EU grid by 2030 and meeting the target of 42.5% of energy coming from renewable sources.
Among the 166 selected common interest projects and projects of common interest, more than half – 85 in total – correspond to power, offshore and smart grid projects. 12 of these are storage, 5 smart grid and 12 maritime infrastructure projects, and most of them are expected to be operational between 2027-2030.
Hydrogen and electrolyzers
For the first time, hydrogen and electrolyser projects such as BarMar (65 in total) are included in the list, according to Brussels. “An important article” To ensure the integration of the energy system and the decarbonization of the EU industry. There are also 14 more CO2 network projects in line with the goals of creating a market for carbon capture and storage. Finally, the new European energy roadmap also includes a dozen projects of common interest, including electricity connections with the United Kingdom, Western Balkans and North African countries.
In addition to BarMar, the list includes other Spanish projects, such as the submarine cable that will pass through the Bay of Bizkaia and connect Gatika with the French town of Cubnezais, the electrical connection between Spain and Portugal, and the interconnections between Navarra and the French Landes. Between Aragon and Marsillon (France), there are several pumped energy storage facilities, as well as electrolyzer plants in Tarragona, Bilbao, Cartagena and Asturias.
New energy map
energy commissioner Kadri Simsonhas submitted the list to the European Parliament, which will examine it together with the Council this Tuesday. The two co-legislators now have two months to accept or reject the list in its entirety – although it could be extended by up to two months – but they will not be able to amend it. The list adopted this Tuesday is the sixth to be adopted by the EU.
“Today’s list of cross-border projects draws the new energy map of Europe. “The era of EU financing for fossil fuel infrastructure is over,” said Energy Commissioner Simson, emphasizing that it is time to invest in fossil fuels. “energy infrastructure” It suits “a more flexible, decentralized and digitalized system where consumers are also producers and most of our energy comes from renewable sources.”