European Hydrogen Backbone publishes 5 potential H2 supply corridors

To deliver the accelerated 2030 hydrogen demand & supply targets set by the REPowerEU plan, five large-scale pipeline corridors are envisaged. The corridors will initially connect domestic local supply and demand in Europe, before expanding & connecting European regions and neighbouring countries with low-cost hydrogen export potential. 

These corridors will play a key role as cost-efficient solution to transport large volumes of low-cost hydrogen supply to demand centers. Pipeline transport offers a cost-efficient solution to connect areas of large amounts of hydrogen excess supply with regions with hydrogen demand, especially when including repurposing of existing gas infrastructure. 

The five corridors span across both domestic and import supply markets, consistent with the three import corridors identified by the REPowerEU plan

The deployment of such a European Hydrogen Backbone infrastructure by 2030 will enable market actors to develop supply and demand more rapidly in a cost-efficient manner

The corridor analysis has identified sufficient hydrogen supply to exceed the European 2030 domestic supply targets, contributing to European energy independence and security of supply. EHB has identified 12 Mt (~400 TWh) of potential EU hydrogen supply, exceeding the domestic, REPowerEU target of 10 Mt of green hydrogen by 2030. In addition, hydrogen import potentials have been identified. EHB also identified a large share of EU hydrogen demand to meet the 2030 target, with an expectation for 2030 demand to accelerate further following the REPowerEU publication. Both hydrogen supply and demand will substantially increase towards 2040.

The five hydrogen supply corridors are: 

• Corridor A: North Africa & Southern Europe 

• Corridor B: Southwest Europe & North Africa 

• Corridor C: North Sea 

• Corridor D: Nordic and Baltic regions 

• Corridor E: East and South-East Europe 

Note that these five corridors are consistent with the REPowerEU plan, and its corridor visual and its three import corridors, including an import corridor via the Mediterranean (Corridors A and B), via the North Sea (Corridor C) and via Ukraine (Corridor E).

To ensure the development of these supply corridors by 2030, speed is of essence and action is needed now. Five key concrete actions: 

• Foster development of new and repurposed hydrogen infrastructure

• Unlock financing to fast-track hydrogen infrastructure deployment 

• Simplify and shorten planning and permitting procedures 

• Intensify energy partnerships with exporting, non-EHB countries 

• Facilitate integrated energy system planning 

The members of the EHB initiative recommend to the EC to consider the establishment of hydrogen supply corridors by 2030 as front-running infrastructure as a political objective, in order to ensure the fulfilment of REPowerEU targets

The Executive Summary can be accessed here and the full report, including individual corridor presentations can be accessed here.