Since the invasion of Ukraine began, the Kremlin has instrumentalized natural gas with the aim of weakening the EU, aware of the Union’s dependence on this hydrocarbon of Russian origin. As a consequence, the 27 have decided to decouple energetically from Russia, looking for alternatives such as the use of liquefied natural gas from other countries and the acceleration of the energy transition.
Both alternatives come together in the H2Med gas pipeline, also known as the Mediterranean Green Corridor or BarMar, which will connect Portugal, Spain and France, which will carry green hydrogen and, technically, will also be capable of transporting gas. On the other hand, this weekend French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany was joining the project.
Germany will receive green hydrogen. Last Sunday, the 60th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty was celebrated in Paris by which France and Germany established the bases of a new relationship based on cooperation, ending centuries of rivalry. In an act held at the Sorbonne University, which included the participation of Macron and Scholz, the French president announced that they had decided to “extend the H2Med project that, thanks to EU funding, unites Portugal, Spain and France ( …) to Germany, which will be a partner in this hydrogen infrastructure strategy”.
Develop green hydrogen transport. For his part, Scholz expressed his satisfaction with the inclusion of the German country in the H2Med project, initially called the Mediterranean Green Corridor, and indicated that it was a “good project for the future”. In addition, in their joint statement published by the Elysée, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to build “a European backbone for the transport of hydrogen across Europe”, through the development of “national and transnational hydrogen infrastructures”, as well as to “extend and strengthen the electrical network of the European Union”.
Sanchez sticks out his chest. After the announcement made by Macron and Scholz, Pedro Sánchez wrote a tweet showing their satisfaction for the incorporation of Germany to the H2Med project. According to the President of the Government, the inclusion of the German country “definitively reinforces its pan-European dimension” and supposes “a new Iberian solution, and there are already two, in favor of European energy sovereignty”.
Double goal accomplished. The Spanish executive’s satisfaction was also expressed in a statement issued by La Moncloa that same Sunday. In it, the government points out that with the incorporation of Germany, it is possible to reinforce the EU’s energy security and autonomy, as well as to place Spain “at the head of the race for the energy transition, leading the development of renewable energies, with vocation also to be a benchmark in hydrogen”.
Spain, European ‘hub’ of green energy. On this pan-European dimension of H2Med, the text states that our country is “for the first time in history, in a position to become a leading green energy ‘hub'” that sends this energy from the Iberian Peninsula to the central countries and Northern Europe.
More innovation and job creation. In this sense, the government statement also underlines the words of Teresa Ribera, Vice President of the Government and Minister of Ecological Transition, on the use of green hydrogen. According to the minister, this type of hydrogen, obtained through a water electrolysis process, can boost innovation, job creation and develop the industrial value chain of the Spanish economy.
The Spanish industry goes first. On the other hand, the Ministry of Ecological Transition posted a video on its Twitter account Twitter celebrating Germany’s interest in H2Med. In it, Teresa Ribera pointed out that the green hydrogen will be used, first of all, to satisfy the industrial needs of the Peninsula, after which it can be exported to northern Europe.
The H2Med is expected to come into operation in 2030, which means that from that year on, Spain will be able to export its surplus of green hydrogen to Germany, as well as to other European countries.
Imagen: The Blowup / Imagen
