In a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) signed in Madrid on 25 June, the gas network operators Enagás, GRTgaz and Teréga and OGE agreed to cooperate on the development of the transnational hydrogen pipeline „BarMar“. This is part of the Iberian Hydrogen Corridor and will connect Barcelona (Spain) and Marsaille (France) via an offshore hydrogen pipeline.
The development partners are Enagás (gas network operator from Spain), GRTgaz and Teréga (both gas network operators from France) and the associated partner OGE. The agreement regulates the conditions for cooperation in the development phase of the BarMar project.
The JDA focuses on the conditions for a feasibility study by the cooperation partners and sets out the preliminary minimum conditions for the final investment decision as well as the key principles for the establishment and management of the special purpose vehicle (SPV): Enagás is to contribute 50 % of the shares, GRTgaz 33.3 % and Teréga 16.7 % by the time the FID is finalised. Against this background, the Spanish and French partners each have a 50 % stake in the BarMar project.
In addition to an existing letter of intent regarding the „CelZa“ interconnector for renewable hydrogen between Portugal and Spain (Celorico da Beira - Zamora), Enagás and the Portuguese long-distance gas grid operator REN have signed a further agreement to the existing letter of intent between the two parties. This relates to the joint development and financing of corresponding studies.
H2med: Hydrogen network from the Iberian Peninsula to north-west Europe
The transnational H2med project is intended to connect the hydrogen networks of the Iberian Peninsula with those of France, Germany and the whole of north-west Europe and also bring advantages in terms of hydrogen supply and demand by connecting the various Iberian and French industrial regions.
H2med should be able to supply Europe with affordable, green hydrogen by 2030. The project was initiated back in October 2022 by the heads of state and government of France, Portugal and Spain, who reaffirmed their commitment at the Euromed Summit in Alicante on 9 December 2022. Germany joined the initiative in January 2023.
H2med is supported by the European Union and was added to the list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) on 28 November 2023. The Official Journal of 8 April highlights the significant contribution of CelZa and BarMar to greater European „sustainability, market integration, security of supply and competitiveness“.
Further information on the H2med project can be found here: https://h2medproject.com/
(Quelle: OGE)
