Enagás today presented the non-binding Call For Interest process for the first axes of the Spanish Hydrogen Backbone Network, in order to gauge the interest of the main players in the energy sector in the development of the necessary renewable hydrogen transport infrastructures. This process also incorporates a public consultation for ammonia, oxygen and CO2.
From 22 September to 17 November, a digital platform will be available on the Enagás corporate website so that users can provide the necessary information to identify supply and demand and potential infrastructure needs. In addition, users will be provided with a support service to deal with their queries.
During the presentation, the CEO of Enagás, Arturo Gonzalo, highlighted “the magnificent reception” of this initiative, and reported that "Enagás has received more than 110 letters of support from the main players and leading companies in the future renewable hydrogen market, which have expressed their support for H2Med, the associated national hydrogen backbone network and the Call For Interest process”.
Specifically -Arturo Gonzalo pointed out-, “support has been received from 90% of the production companies, distributors, associations and research centres linked to the hydrogen sector, and also from companies that represent more than 95% of current hydrogen consumption in Spain".
The Enagás CEO explained that the Call For Interest process “will provide an even clearer map of the future hydrogen network in Spain as part of the future hydrogen network in Europe”, on which, he recalled, “the countries around us are already working”.
As a milestone in this progress, during his speech Arturo Gonzalo revealed that “on 18 October Enagás will present the H2Med corridor in Berlin”, together with the other Transmission System Operators (TSOs) promoters, with the support of the governments of Spain and Germany and with the participation of major German industrial players.
He also detailed that the results of the non-binding Call For Interest will be presented during the second edition of Enagás Hydrogen Day, scheduled for January 2024.
Along these lines, the CEO of Enagás stressed the importance of having a Spanish Hydrogen Backbone Network as an essential basis for connecting supply and demand, boosting the competitiveness of industry and decarbonisation, and with a corridor such as H2Med that will help turn Spain into Europe’s leading hydrogen hub.
Regarding the Call For Interest, Enagás’ General Manager for Energy Transition, Natalia Latorre, stressed in her speech that it is “a process coordinated with the sector’s key agents, which will enable the identification of potential users of the Spanish Hydrogen Backbone Network and, if necessary, adapt the preliminary infrastructure proposal presented in January”. Enagás’ Director of Hydrogen, Jesús Gil, anticipated that the results “will allow us to continue advancing in the process, with greater precision and more dialogue with all the participating agents”.
The timetable presented in the Call For Interest webinar foresees that from 2024 onwards the Open Season process will start in a non-binding phase for the gathering of additional information and interaction with participants. Following this step, the binding Open Season would be launched in 2025, based on the results of the previous phase and in which firm commitments would be made for the use of the infrastructures.
