Enagas, Spain's leading gas grid operator, has secured provisional approval from the Spanish Government to advance the development of the Spanish section of the trans-European hydrogen pipeline known as the H2med project. This initiative aims to create a major hydrogen infrastructure network connecting Spain, France, Germany, and Portugal.

The H2med hydrogen pipeline project will feature a comprehensive network including an underwater pipeline between Spain and France, interconnections with Portugal, and various hydrogen storage facilities. Enagas will work in partnership with other operators such as GRTgaz, Terega, OGE, and REN to bring this ambitious project to fruition.

The total estimated cost for Spain's hydrogen portfolio is €4.9 billion ($5.31 billion), with the H2med project alone requiring €2.5 billion in net investment through 2030. Spain has committed to investing €1 billion of this amount. Additionally, Enagas is poised to apply for funding from the Connecting Europe Facility for Energy (CEF-E), a program that supports key energy infrastructure projects listed by the European Commission. The H2med project has been included in the European Commission's sixth list of Projects of Common Interest, making it eligible for accelerated permitting and additional financial support.

This development follows the European Commission's recent approval of a €1.2 billion Spanish scheme to support investments in renewable hydrogen, storage solutions, and renewable electricity generation. As hydrogen emerges as a crucial component in the transition to cost-effective renewable energy, its production costs are projected to decrease significantly by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency.

Source: power-technology.com