The project corridors a route through Zamora to ship green hydrogen toward neighboring France, establishing the first large-scale green corridor in Spain and a pivotal energy backbone for Europe. Enagás, the principal developer, reached an agreement with the operator OGE to expand the pipeline so it can meet the demand of regional industries. The Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, alongside the main partners, participated actively in the talks. The collaboration includes Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany. The objective is clear: achieve climate neutrality across the community by 2050.
The inclusion of the German operator OGE in H2Med marks a crucial step for advancing the project. This stance was promoted by Enagás chief executive Arturo Gonzalo, who underscored the backing of the governments of Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany for a strategic decarbonisation effort in Europe. The agreement also highlights the necessity of a hydro canal crossing Zamora province to align supply with demand for green hydrogen and to promote cooperation and energy sovereignty across Europe.
Portugal and Spain emphasize that H2Med is essential to linking these western nations and green hydrogen producers with central and northern Europe. The project and its national routes are poised to create a competitive hydrogen corridor and contribute to a more integrated and independent European energy market by adding a vital vector for decarbonisation and the energy transition across the community.
Germany’s role in H2Med was formalized this week with a signing in Berlin, attended by the Director General of Energy Policy and Mining. Manuel García from the Ministry highlighted that the hydro canal stands as a prime example of European energy cooperation. He also noted that its implementation will strengthen Spain’s energy security and help reduce the nation’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels used by some key industries.
The H2Med project has been submitted to the Projects of Community Interest (PCI) call opened last December and awaits a formal decision. The plan covers the Celorico da Beira to Zamora connection (CelorZa) and the Barcelona to Marseille sea link (BarMar). Brussels has already approved the technical components as a first step toward financing. Construction for the stretch from the border through Aliste to the Zamora compression station carries an estimated cost of 157 million euros, a figure calculated by Enagás, which declared the project a priority within Spain’s green hydrogen deployment roadmap aimed for completion by 2030.
The CelZa project, linking Celorico da Beira with Zamora, is projected to require about 350 million euros in total investment, with roughly half funded by the European Community following Brussels’ call. Once the technical project is approved, the infrastructure stands in a strong position.
The H2Med framework is central to Spain’s hydrogen backbone strategy, establishing a significant north–south axis for green hydrogen transport in Zamora. Plans also include an additional eastern branch to connect the pipeline with central Spain, ensuring wider energy coverage.
Brussels Resolves Projects of Common Interest in November
H2Med has been developing since its public unveiling by the Spanish government and Enagás in December 2022. The initiative is currently in the final evaluation phase before a decision by the European Commission. It is not yet declared a Project of Community Interest. The decision is expected in November, and Spain awaits a favorable outcome. If approved, the hydro canal would still need to pass parliamentary and ministerial approvals in early 2024, after which funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) could accelerate studies and construction, with a target for completion around 2030.
The European Commission views H2Med as essential to expanding the network for green hydrogen while leveraging existing gas pipelines where feasible. Recent analyses indicate this strategy may lower overall fuel costs through efficiency gains and better integration of supply and demand across Europe.