President Emmanuel Macron of France continues to face political pressure over his stance on cross-Pyrenean energy projects, including the idea of a pipeline to connect Spain and France or even broader connections within Europe. At a recent meeting that opened the European Political Community in Prague, Macron said that the top priority remains electrical interconnections across the continent. He signaled that the Trans-Pyrenean pipeline would require a lengthy development horizon, estimating a timeline of five to eight years, and stressed that France is a net exporter of gas to Spain rather than the other way around. This framing places more urgency on expanding electricity links than on alternatives that would move gas directly through the Pyrenees.
Asked whether existing pipelines are being used to their full potential, Macron responded that utilization is far from optimal. He suggested that gas flows to France from Spain are substantial but not Romeward in the sense of a large, centralized import. The remark drew swift pushback from the Spanish government. Teresa Ribera, Spain’s third vice-president and minister for the Ecological Transition, challenged the French president’s assessment. She pointed out that since March 1, a week after the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Spain has shown a persistent net export balance to France, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the days in the period cited, with export levels reaching a high capacity on many occasions. Ribera also noted the constraint that a connection operates at full export capability only when usage is at or above eighty percent of capacity, warning that a pipeline running at minimal use for long stretches is effectively saturated.
In a concise address, Macron raised a fundamental question for Europe: should hydrogen be circulated through pipelines or will electricity drive electrolysis and energy storage? He described this as the strategic debate for the 27 member states and reaffirmed France’s priority: stronger electrical interconnections across Europe. He indicated willingness from the French government to back all interconnection projects that expand the continent’s ability to generate more electricity while pursuing a balanced mix of renewables and nuclear energy. This stance reflects a broader belief that Europe’s near-term energy security will hinge on expanding grid connections and a diversified energy strategy rather than relying on a single technology.
Environmental Impact
Ribera also pressed the environmental or visual footprint argument, noting that transporting hydrogen via pipelines could be cheaper and more efficient than transmitting electricity over long high-voltage lines. She cited studies from the European Hydrogen Backbone indicating comparable costs for new hydrogen pipelines and for new high-voltage electricity corridors over similar distances. The figures she shared suggested a 48-inch hydrogen pipeline over a 1000-kilometer span could cost around five euros per megawatt-hour, with a hydrogen-ready network expected to deliver favorable economics compared with new 2.8 gigawatt direct-current power lines that might be in the same ballpark or higher. The minister highlighted that underground hydrogen infrastructure can minimize environmental disruption and visual impact compared with overhead power lines. She also argued that hydrogen networks could function as flexible storage, helping Europe adjust to shifting demand and production, and that such flexibility is valuable for balancing intermittent renewable generation with steady baseload sources.
The debate underscores a broader European transition: balancing immediate energy prices with the long-term goal of secure, low-emission power. Advocates for gas-to-electricity transitions point to the importance of cross-border interconnections as a backbone of regional resilience, while proponents of hydrogen emphasize storage, decarbonization potential, and reduced exposure to price swings in gas markets. The discussion also reflects how member states weigh infrastructure costs against ecological and local impact, public acceptance, and the timing of construction. Market analyses and government assessments continue to shape the policy timetable, with energy ministers and heads of state watching closely how interconnection projects align with national energy plans and with EU-wide goals for a reliable supply of affordable electricity and a sustainable energy mix. Sources referenced include analyses from the European Hydrogen Backbone and policy remarks from European and national energy agencies to illustrate the ongoing assessment of interconnections and hydrogen strategies.