Italy, Germany and Austria sign cooperation deal on SoutH2 pipeline
Published by Isabel Stagg,
Editorial Assistant
World Pipelines,
Italy, Germany and Austria have signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of a network to transport hydrogen from the southern Mediterranean to northern Europe, the energy ministries of the three countries said on Thursday 20 May, 2024 reports Reuters.
The official announcement, which confirms what sources told Reuters on Tuesday, marks a concrete step in the European Union's strategy to secure renewable hydrogen supplies by 2030 to help decarbonise its most polluting industries.
"The Southern Hydrogen Corridor will provide renewable hydrogen imports from North Africa via southern Italy and further connect to the major hydrogen demand hubs in Italy, Austria and Germany," the German ministry said in a statement.
The link dubbed ‘SoutH2’, which last year won priority status from the European Commission, is considered important to develop a European market for the renewable fuel.
A group of companies including Italian gas grid operator Snam has teamed up to build the SoutH2 pipeline by the beginning of the next decade, with a financial commitment of more than €4 billion (US$4.3 billion).
"The southern corridor will play an important role, especially in supplying the southern German states with green hydrogen," Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck said in a statement.
Last year sources told Reuters Italy was in preliminary talks with Bavaria's government to supply gas and hydrogen to the southern German state, adding Rome also aimed to sell energy to Austria.
The European Union aims to produce 10 million t and import 10 million t of green hydrogen by 2030 in a bid to replace fossil fuels, which emit planet-warming gases when burned.
Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water through electrolysis using renewable energy.
Read the latest issue of World Pipelines magazine for pipeline news, project stories, industry insight and technical articles.
World Pipelines’ May 2024 issue
The May 2024 issue of World Pipelines features our annual focus on pipelines in extreme environments (hear from Michels, Vacuworx, and RMI). The keynote section on pipelines and the environment covers methane emissions, new CO2 transport options, and technologies for environmentally friendly delivery of energy. Also in this issue: the trials of a new inline inspection tool (STATS Group), and is DCVG inspection obsolete, asks EMPIT GmbH?
Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/31052024/italy-germany-and-austria-sign-cooperation-deal-on-south2-pipeline/
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