H2med: five H2med TSO partners launch the Alliance

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), DH2 Energy España, Elyse Energy, Hydrogène de France, HYNAMICS, Moeve, Qair, Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE), SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar GmbH & Co KGaA, thyssenkrupp nucera, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe (energy and technological companies) and Enagás, GRTgaz, OGE, REN et Teréga -H2med promoters-, create the Alliance for the H2med Southwestern Hydrogen Corridor. This Alliance will bring together countries such as Portugal, Spain, France and Germany, reinforcing the deployment of a European hydrogen single market as well as connecting hydrogen production, storage and consumption projects.

This initiative aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of industrial regions through the implementation of the H2med Southwestern Hydrogen Corridor by the early 2030´s, driving a robust hydrogen value chain. This effort reflects a shared vision for a climate-neutral Europe powered by renewable and low-carbon hydrogen. In this context, the Alliance contributes to achieving the decarbonisation and energy transition goals of the European Green Deal and Fit for 55, in alignment with the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP), the vision articulated in Mario Draghi's report and the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal.

The Alliance have been announced during the event at the German Embassy in Madrid: “Scaling Up Green Hydrogen for Domestic Use and Export” with the presence of Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Joan Groizard Payeras, Secretary of State for Energy at the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, João Mira-Gomes, Portuguese Ambassador to Spain and Maria Margarete Gosse, German Ambassador to Spain. This cross-cutting, multiregional and multisectoral collaboration will be essential to provide a sound basis for driving hydrogen supply and demand, creating best conditions to develop strategic projects.

The Alliance will facilitate collaboration and communication between members across all hydrogen value chain segments (production, technology, consumption, transport…) - this multilateral coordination is recognized as a key element to generate a real and long-term tractor effect to drive the sector forward. This Alliance will contribute to impulse domestic hydrogen markets and decarbonisation in their respective countries, by creating incentives to scale up capacities for production and offtake as well as integrating supply and demand for energy in Europe. Considering the strategic role of hydrogen for decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors (industry and maritime, aviation and heavy transport), it is essential to develop a trans-European hydrogen ecosystem and establish a hydrogen single market. This will ensure the competitiveness of European industry as well as the long-term security of supply and resilience of the European energy system.

The Alicante Declaration signed by the European leaders during the Euromed Summit in 2022 underscored the European commitment to seek collective solutions to the energy problem, focusing on hydrogen and its transportation as key elements for the continent's energy independence. Through this Alliance, participants will establish a framework for cooperation contributing to the development of the Southwestern Hydrogen Corridor, consisting mainly of the pipeline projects H2med, HY-FEN (GRTgaz South-North hydrogen link) and HySoW, the Portuguese and Spanish Backbones, in connection with OGE´s pipelines as part of the German hydrogen core network, which have all been recognized (or are candidating) as Projects of Common Interest (PCI) by the European Union.

Moreover, the members of the Alliance will work together to reinforce the deployment of hydrogen network projects as well as connect hydrogen production, storage and consumption projects, thereby contributing to growth of the hydrogen economy in Europe. To that end, members will meet periodically to ensure coordination, identification and reporting of synergies and opportunities. It is an open Alliance that aims to include additional companies and regions in the near future, calling for support from governments too.