Inspenet, July 13, 2023.
The Medgaz pipeline will no longer be used to export or import hydrogen in the future as planned in September last year.
The European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) has presented an updated version of its vision for hydrogen transportation infrastructure across Europe. The new map shows hydrogen interconnection plans in the European Union.
In this updated version, Spain is no longer connected to the Medgaz pipeline to import or export green hydrogen in 2040, as previously predicted. However, for the year 2030, the construction of the H2Med, a hydroduct that will connect Barcelona with Marseille, is planned. A hydrogen interconnection with Italy is also planned through a 792-kilometre-long hydroduct that will connect Barcelona and Livorno, although this infrastructure is expected for the year 2040.
Morocco, France and Italy, yes
In addition, the connection to the Maghreb gas pipeline, which is currently used to export gas to Morocco, will be maintained, with the possibility of using it in the future to transport hydrogen or even to buy hydrogen from Morocco and send it to central Europe.
This interconnection would use green hydrogen from 2040.
In the previous map presented in September of last year, it was planned to use the Medgaz in the version corresponding to 2040. At that time, the H2Med had not yet been included and it was considered to revive the MidCat project to connect with France.
Finally, two submarine hydroducts will be established with France and Italy, but the connection with Algeria is broken, as happened almost two years ago with the Maghreb gas pipeline, because Algeria did not want to send gas through Morocco.
In recent months, diplomatic relations with Algeria have deteriorated significantly, although trade relations have not been affected as much. The gas supply through Medgaz (Almería) remains in operation.
Despite having lost one of the routes, Algeria is still Spain’s main gas supplier. It looks like they will continue to supply gas for many years as hydrogen is not expected to flow through their pipelines in the future.
The European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) initiative is a group of 32 energy infrastructure operators who share a vision of a climate-neutral Europe, powered by a thriving low-carbon and renewable hydrogen market.
Among the participants is the Spanish company Enagás, which currently holds the shared presidency of this initiative through María Sicilia.
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