- Enagas secures crucial hydrogen projects on EU’s PCI list
- Projects include the H2Med corridor and the Spanish Hydrogen Network.
Spain’s gas grid operator, Enagas, has successfully placed two renewable hydrogen projects on the European Commission’s coveted Projects of Common Interest (PCI) roster. These strategic milestones mark Enagas’ shift from a traditional natural gas operator to a pivotal player in managing hydrogen infrastructure for Spain and Europe.
The Commission’s list encompasses the ambitious H2Med corridor, a forthcoming multibillion-euro green hydrogen pipeline connecting the Iberian peninsula to France and Central Europe by 2030. It includes Enagas’ proposed hydrogen trunk network in Spain and two associated storage facilities. Enagas expressed confidence that the project’s inclusion in the list would significantly contribute to realising the RePowerEU Plan, aligning with European and Spanish objectives of achieving energy autonomy, bolstering industrial competitiveness, and advancing decarbonisation efforts.
While the PCI list awaits final endorsement from the European Parliament and EU Council in early 2024, Enagas remains optimistic about the trajectory of these initiatives. Notably, the recent collaboration of German gas grid operator Open Grid Europe, joining forces with French, Spanish, and Portuguese counterparts, emphasises the increasing focus on hydrogen as a pivotal tool in industrial decarbonisation.
In July, Enagas’s chief executive, Arturo Gonzalo, highlighted the potential for EU funds to cover a substantial portion, ranging from 30 to 50%, of the project’s costs. He also anticipated a greater inclination toward supporting international ventures over national infrastructure, although both would remain eligible for funding, albeit potentially at varying scales.