After Germany accepts Spain and France’s plans, the H2Med infrastructure is called upon to disconnect from other countries
The European Union in general, and Germany in particular, have realized the energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, one of the old continent’s weaknesses: foreign dependence. It already happened in the pandemic, with the manufacture of masks. And later, with the crisis of semiconductors and technologies. For that reason, Berlin has just joined the H2Med project, the corridor through which clean hydrogen can be transported to Northern Europe via the Iberian Peninsula. And disconnect from Moscow. These are the keys to a project born out of the need to transport natural gas through the Pyrenees and which has resulted in an infrastructure that will connect Barcelona to Marseille.
the kilometer path
The latest H2Med project runs between the Catalan and French coasts through a 360 kilometer long pipeline. transports about 2 million tons of green hydrogen per year to France and Portugal via Barcelona and Zamora. The corridor will cost around 2,500 million euros and could be completed by the end of this decade. It marks the end of the MidCat project, the land link with France partially completed as far as the province of Girona, although it aimed to reach Toulusse.
Renewable hydrogen versus gas
The H2Med is an infrastructure used to transport renewable hydrogen, although gas will also be transported temporarily. Green hydrogen is the result of an electrolysis process (the water molecule is broken down into oxygen and hydrogen) generated with renewable facilities. This hydrogen (H2) is the one that will later be used as an energy source against gas, now coming from the decisions of Russia and other foreign countries. This is how Europe wants to strengthen its autonomy.
practical use
H2 will serve as a raw material in the chemical industry, in the petrochemical industry for oil refining and in metallurgy to obtain steel. In addition, it is intended as a fuel to decarbonise transportation, especially long-haul and air transport. It will also serve for electricity and heating in homes. And as storage.
Green, grey, pink, blue…
The most decisive thing about green is that it is produced with renewable energy. But there is also blue hydrogen, based on fossil fuels, although capable of capturing and reducing emissions throughout the process. Gray is the most polluting and uses natural gas as fuel. And during this process, France is committed to pink hydrogen, through energy from nuclear power plants.
long process
While with Germany’s position and the agreement between France and Spain, H2Med’s path is clearer, there are risks involved. The first, the million-dollar funding that must come largely from community funds. And improving the efficiency and use of water (fresh or salt) to prevent a solution from leading to another problem of greater depth.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
