Page 4 - EurOil Week 15 2021

EurOil COMMENTARY EurOil

Europe strives to give

hydrogen a backbone

The plan is to establish a 40,000-km European hydrogen network by 2040

EUROPE EUROPEAN gas grid operators are expanding co-ordinator, Daniel Muthmann, commented.
already ambitious plans to create a multi-coun- “Our new report shows that a truly pan-Eu-
try hydrogen transport system. ropean hydrogen infrastructure largely based
WHAT: 11 transmission system operators (TSOs) on repurposed existing gas infrastructure is
European grid operators working in 10 countries unveiled the European possible.”
have scaled up their Hydrogen Backbone initiative last summer, Hydrogen has gained significant traction as
plans for a continental aimed at creating a hydrogen transport network a potential solution for decarbonising indus-
hydrogen network. from repurposed gas pipelines and dedicated try in Europe since the European Commission
new ones. A further 12 TSOs from 11 countries published its landmark hydrogen strategy last
WHY: have signed up, and the scope of the initiative has summer. Brussels has acknowledged the impor-
The system will span 21 grown significantly. tant role that low-carbon, methane-derived blue
countries instead of 10. In a statement on April 13, the system opera- hydrogen has to play in reducing emissions in
Capital unit costs will be tors said they were aiming to establish a 11,600- the nearer term, although the main focus is on
lower, but operational km hydrogen network by 2030, scaling up to green hydrogen from water using renewable
unit costs will likely be 39,700 km by 2040. Last year they were only energy. The EU is looking to have 40 MW of
higher. targeting a 6,800 km by 2030 and 23,000 km electrolyser capacity up and running by 2030,
by 2040. The previous plan involved connect- capable of producing 10mn tonnes per year (tpy)
WHAT NEXT: ing only 10 countries, with infrastructure to be of green hydrogen.
The initiative will be concentrated in Belgium, France, Germany and Hydrogen not only acts as a fuel but also
finalised once there is a the Netherlands. But the new plan will bring a useful means of storing renewable energy,
regulatory framework in together 21 European countries, including the given the challenges with developing large-
place. UK and Ireland, additional nations in Cen- scale batteries. On some very windy days,
tral and Eastern Europe, Finland, Estonia and for instance, Europe’s wind turbines generate
Greece. too much electricity for the grid to handle,
“We are glad that 11 new countries have and this energy is lost. But this excess supply
joined the EHB initiative,” the scheme’s could be used to produce hydrogen, which

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