The European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) initiative presents an analysis on future demand, supply, and transport of hydrogen across Europe. This study complements the recently published EHB maps, which showed a hydrogen pipeline network of nearly 40,000 km by 2040, connecting 19 EU Member States plus the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
Large future hydrogen demand to make Europe a climate-neutral continent
The EU and UK could see a hydrogen demand of around 2,300 TWh (of which 2,000 TWh in the EU) by 2050. This equals about 45% of EU+UK natural gas consumption in 2019. Hydrogen is crucial to decarbonise industry, in particular chemicals (ammonia and high-value chemicals), iron and steel, and fuel production. Hydrogen is also expected to play an important role in providing dispatchable electricity, as a heavy transport fuel and in some countries in the heating of buildings.
Europe can be self-sufficient in green and blue hydrogen, imports are likely
The total expected hydrogen demand could potentially be met by green hydrogen produced in the EU and UK, using renewable electricity. Yet producing such quantities of green hydrogen domestically is subject to public acceptance of an accelerated expansion of renewable installed capacity, financing, regulation and quality standard setting. It is anticipated that the economics of green hydrogen production costs will improve, allowing a rapid scale-up. In addition to green hydrogen, large quantities of relatively cheap blue hydrogen can be produced in Europe to quickly drive emission reductions and accelerate the pace of the transition. The study also shows that hydrogen imports by pipeline can provide an attractive complement to domestic supply.
New Study: sufficient hydrogen available within reach of the European Hydrogen backbone
Hydrogen Backbone is cost-effective and essential to create a European cross-border hydrogen market
Repurposed existing gas infrastructure plays a crucial role in connecting hydrogen supply and demand locations. Hydrogen pipelines are the most cost-efficient option for long-distance, high-volume transport at €0.11-0.21/kg per 1,000 km, outcompeting transport by ship for all reasonable distances within Europe and neighbouring regions. Also, the study shows that for high-volume transport of energy when the desired end-product is hydrogen, even without including flexibility costs such as energy storage, pipelines are more cost-effective than powerlines delivering the same amount of energy.
Daniel Muthmann, Coordinator of the EHB initiative and Head of corporate development, strategy, policy and communication at OGE:
Our new study shows that hydrogen will be crucial in multiple energy demand sectors.
“And the Backbone will be an enabler to connect supply with demand within Europe as well as allowing for cost-competitive imports”
The report can be found here: www.gasforclimate2050.eu/publications. For more information, please contact:
Creos Luxembourg
Jean-François SCHNEIDERS
+352 2624 8505
jean-francois.schneiders@creos.net
DESFA (Greece)
Natasha Chatziantoniou
+30 213 088 4058
a.chatziantoniou@DESFA.GR
Elering (Estonia)
Siim Iimre
+372 7151 222
Siim.Iimre@elering.ee
Enagás (Spain)
Alexandra Issacovitch
+34 629858493
vaissacovitch@enagas.es
Energinet (Denmark)
Tine Lindgren
+4523338715
TIL@energinet.dk
Eustream (Slovakia)
Pavol Kubík
+421262507134
pavol.kubik@eustream.sk
FGSZ (Hungary)
Dorottya Jászay
+36208260176
DJaszay@fgsz.hu
Fluxys (Belgium)
Laurent Remy
+32 479 65 92 29
laurent.remy@fluxys.com
Gas Connect Austria
Laura Veits-Pedarnig
Tel.: +43 (1) 27500 8100
laura.veits-pedarnig@gasconnect.at
Gasgrid Finland
Sara Kärki
+358 40 158 1722
sara.karki@gasgrid.fi
Gas Networks Ireland
Brian Murphy
+353 87 601 5577
Brian.Murphy@ervia.ie
Paul O’Donoghue
Paul.ODonoghue@ervia.ie
Gasunie (the Netherlands)
Marie-Lou Gregoire
+31 6 2043 0070
M.H.Gregoire@gasunie.nl
GAZ SYSTEM (Poland)
Iwona Dominiak
+48502200081
rzecznik@gaz-system.pl
GRTgaz (France)
Jean-Marc Brimont
jeanmarc.brimont@grtgaz.com
National Grid (United Kingdom)
Surinder Sian
+44 (0)7812 485 153
surinder.sian@nationalgrid.com
NET4GAS (Czech Republic)
Karin Stehlík
+420 604 223 577
karin.stehlik@net4gas.cz
Nordion (Sweden)
Saila Horttainen
+46706227606
Saila.Horttanainen@nordionenergi.se
ONTRAS (Germany)
Dirk Manske
+49 341 27111 2095
dirk.manske@ontras.com
OGE (Germany)
Christian Page
+49 175 1877392
christian.page@oge.net
Plinovodi (Slovenia)
Franc Cimerman
+38615820628
franc.cimerman@plinovodi.si
Teréga (France)
Ms. Mathilde Woringer
+33 5 59 13 32 52
mathilde.woringer@terega.fr
Trans Austria Gasleitung GmbH (Austria)
Mr Roberto TEBALDI
+43 (1) 5975116 – 58145
r.tebaldi@taggmbh.at
Snam (Italy)
Roberta Vivenzio
+39 342 7719117
roberta.vivenzio@snam.it
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
New Study: sufficient hydrogen available within reach of the European Hydrogen backbone, June 15, 2021
