Hydrogen no pipe dream as Europe gets a ‘backbone’
One of the great advantages of clean hydrogen over fossil fuels is the ability to produce it anywhere there is a ready supply of renewable energy and water. However, with both of those inputs being distributed unevenly around the world, it is likely to be cost competitive to transport clean hydrogen between and across countries.
While a fair amount of the world’s clean hydrogen will be transported in various forms by sea, most will be moved by pipeline, according to research from ReThink Energy. That’s because it’s the cheapest option for distances below 7,000 km, ReThink says (others say it’s closer to 5,000 km, but a lot no doubt depends on what kind of terrain is being traversed).
One of the big advantages of pipelines is that they can transport hydrogen as a gas, while seaborne transport involves converting it into a liquid or ammonia and back again, or using liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOCHs), all of which add to the cost of a kg of end product.
Transporting the clean fuel to major consuming nations from low-cost producers will add between $0.50 and $1.86 to a kg of hydrogen, ReThink research shows. Depending on differences in cost of production between countries, a healthy trade in clean hydrogen is expected to develop.
One of the big advantages of pipelines is that they can transport hydrogen as a gas, while seaborne transport involves converting it into a liquid or ammonia and back again, or using liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOCHs), all of which add to the cost of a kg of end product.
Those countries don’t need to be on the other side of the world from each other. Hydrogen trade got a big boost last week when H2MED, a €2.5 billion pipeline between Spain and France, was unveiled by European leaders, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. An additional pipeline connecting Spain and Portugal will cost €350 million.
The 455 km underwater pipeline will have a capacity of 2 million tonnes a year and be ready by 2030. The project will take advantage of the Iberian peninsula’s abundant sun and wind to produce low-cost clean hydrogen and send it to industrial consumers in the north of the continent.
The pipeline will form a major artery of the “European hydrogen backbone”, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Hydrogen is a game changer for Europe, we want to make hydrogen a central part of our energy system in the transition to climate neutrality and Net Zero, and we want to maintain our European trailblazer position as we build a global market for hydrogen,” said von der Leyen. “We are establishing hydrogen partnerships with Mediterranean countries, we have one with Egypt and now discussing one with Morocco, and working on a broader green hydrogen partnership with all southern Mediterranean countries.”
Hydrogen trade got a big boost last week when H2MED, a €2.5 billion pipeline between Spain and France, was unveiled by European leaders, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The UK is also readying a hydrogen pipeline network. The Hynet North West Hydrogen Pipeline aims to be the nation’s first 100% hydrogen pipeline project, with work set to begin in 2025, subject to consent.
The pipeline will criss-cross the area, delivering clean hydrogen from a production plant in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire to industry and homes in St Helens, Warrington and throughout the Hynet North West low-carbon cluster.
A major hydrogen pipeline is also planned for south Wales. Hyline Cymru hopes to link Pembroke and the Swansea Bay area.
A major hydrogen pipeline is also planned for south Wales. Hyline Cymru hopes to link Pembroke and the Swansea Bay area.
These regional pipelines will be connected to National Grid’s Project Union, which aims to establish a National Hydrogen Transmission System to link the UK’s industrial clusters with a dedicated supply of hydrogen. National Grid estimates it could repurpose about a quarter of the UK’s current natural gas transmission pipelines for hydrogen.
Clean hydrogen is no pipe dream. And neither are the pipelines that will deliver it to its destination.
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