Launch of the Valenciennes Call for Expression of Interest (CEI)

In 2021-2022, GRTgaz held France’s first national low-carbon and renewable hydrogen consultation. It is now launching an CEI to confirm the economic interest in a hydrogen pipeline transport infrastructure around Valenciennes and extending to the border with Belgium, where the network would be connected to its Belgian equivalent that Fluxys plans to develop in parallel around the city of Mons.

This call for expressions of interest is transparent, non-discriminatory and open to all market stakeholders. It will be rolled out in two stages:

An initial, non-committing phase is a chance for stakeholders to describe their needs and for GRTgaz to define the necessary infrastructure. Stakeholders are invited to express their interest based on the information provided below. 

After this expression of interest and the signing of a contract, GRTgaz will carry out a feasibility study to determine the proper transport infrastructure and come up with an initial financial estimate.
If this non-committing phase confirms that there is market interest, GRTgaz will work together with interested parties to set the conditions for access to structures and the decision conditions for the completion of works, with the aim of launching a second “committing” phase.

During the initial non-committing phase, stakeholders are invited to express their interest based on details contained in the “Information Memorandum” supplemented by the “Infrastructure Proposal” and the “Hydrogen Specifications Proposal”, all of which can be downloaded below.

GRTgaz’s proposed infrastructure bypasses the Valenciennes agglomeration to the east to connect the industrial zones located to the south and north. It extends northwards to the border with Belgium, where there is an interconnection to the Belgian network.

This initial proposal is purely indicative, and the route can be modified depending on market stakeholders’ responses to the Open Season expression of interest phase.

>> Enlarge the map of the indicative zone

>> Infrastructure proposal (french version)
>> Infrastructure proposal (english version)

Hydrogen specifications relating to hydrogen quality and pressure conditions are needed to ensure the absolute safety and interoperability of the future hydrogen transport networks.

GRTgaz proposes some initial, indicative specifications, which are summarized in the document that can be downloaded below.

>> Hydrogen specifications proposal (french version)
>> Hydrogen specifications proposal (english version)