Franco-Belgian Corridor

The Franco-Belgian Corridor Project is aimed at developing a large-scale cross-border network from the port of Dunkirk throughout the Franco-Belgian border region.
Initially, a transport network will be developed in the Port of Dunkirk to connect local power generation and consumption projects in what is one of France’s most CO₂-intensive industrial hubs (DHUNE project). 

At the same time, GRTgaz, in coordination with Fluxys, will develop an 80 km infrastructure (including 40 km in France) near the cities of Valenciennes in France and Mons in Belgium to connect different power generators and consumers on a non-discriminatory and transparent basis (WHHYN project).

In subsequent phases, the project will be extended southwards towards the Paris Metropolitan Area and eastwards towards the Grand-Est region, where it will interconnect with the HY-FEN project, also serving road and air mobility users, and enabling the development of a cross-border European network covering France, Belgium and Germany.

The project has been recognised as a “Project of Common Interest” (PCI) by Europe, in recognition of its role in achieving the European Union’s climate objectives.
 

The primary use will be industrial, with the replacement of fossil hydrogen, coke and natural gas by renewable or low-carbon hydrogen. Heavy mobility is one of the supplementary uses being considered, on roads and waterways.

• 2022: calls for interest for the DHUNE and WHHYN Hydrogen Transport Network Projects
• 2023: completion of feasibility studies for the DHUNE and WHHYN Projects following the successful call for interest.
• Early 2024: launch of FEED studies for the DHUNE Project

• 2024: start of FEED studies for the WHHYN Project
• Mid-2025: End of basic studies, investment decision (FID) expected on DHUNE project
• End of 2027: 1st planned commissioning date for DHUNE Project
• 2028: commissioning date for WHHYN Project
• 2030: extension of network to the Île-de-France Region
• 2034: extension of DHUNE network to Belgium and connection to a hydrogen terminal for integration into a North-West European network and extension to the Grand-East region

DHUNE Project:

• Length: around 10 km in the Port of Dunkirk.
• Transmission capacity: approximately 20 GWh/d.

WHHYN Project:

• Length: around 40 km in France, around Valenciennes.
• Interconnection capacity at the border with Belgium: approximately 24 GWh/d.

Extension phase to the Île-de-France region:

• Length: 200 km to link Taisnières-sur-Hon to the Ile-de-France region.
• Transmission capacity: approximately 60 GWh/d (including 36 GWh/d of cross-border capacity at Taisnières-sur-Hon).

Extension phase to the Grand-Est region:

• Length: 265 km from Taisnières-sur-Hon to the Grand Est region.
• Transmission capacity: approximately 25 GWh/d.

According to an initial assessment, this project, with all its phases, could prevent the emission of 20.9 Mt CO₂eq/yr.