The European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) initiative has updated and increased its hydrogen infrastructure network construction targets throughout Europe in line with the European Commission’s recently released REPowerEU document, a roadmap to reducing Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels from Russia before 2030.

The Russian-Ukraine conflict has proven the need for green energy independence. The updated REPowerEU’s plan for Europe is to reach an additional 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen on top of the 5.6m t planned by the “Fit for 55” scheme, Kallanish notes.

To meet the REPowerEU targets, EHB is fast-tracking its programme with a new ambition to create a hydrogen network of 53,000 kilometres across Europe by 2040 for a total investment between €80-143 billion ($87-155 billion) based on using 60% of repurposed natural gas pipelines and 40% new pipeline stretches. This will include subsea pipelines and interconnectors between the continent and offshore hydrogen production centres.

“Transporting hydrogen over 1,000 km along the proposed onshore backbone would on average cost €0.11-0.21/kg of hydrogen, making the EHB the most cost-effective option for large-scale, long-distance hydrogen transport. In case hydrogen is transported exclusively via subsea pipelines, the cost would be €0.17-0.32/kg of hydrogen per 1,000 km transported," a note explains. The initiative targets 28,000 kilometres in 2030 and 53,000 km in 2040 with the ambition to cover 28 European countries.

The 31 European gas transmission system operators (TSOs) behind the EHB, a venture launched over a year ago, initially proposed a 39,700 kilometres hydrogen network, delivering the alternative fuel to decarbonise transport and industry across the bloc by 2040. They said two-thirds of the network could come from existing pipelines, with the remaining 31% being new-built as Europe could repurpose 69% of its natural gas pipelines to transport hydrogen across 21 countries (see Kallanish 14 April 2021).

According to the updated EHB hydrogen infrastructure map, by 2030 there should be five European hydrogen supply and import corridors connecting industrial hubs, ports, and hydrogen valleys.