According to recent data from the H2Med consortium, Spain’s hydrogen exports are projected to exceed the current transportation capacity through the H2Med network by 2032.
The Call for Interest (CFI) conducted by the consortium reveals substantial enthusiasm, with approximately 170 companies aligning on over 500 hydrogen-related projects. The infrastructure intended to facilitate these exports stretches a notable 5,500 kilometers, encompassing regions in Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany.
Spain’s position as a hydrogen exporter is robust, with its production capacity anticipated to reach 1.2 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030. This figure is expected to rise significantly, surpassing 2 mtpa by 2035. However, this production growth trajectory may strain the current infrastructure, which is designed to handle only up to 2 mtpa along the crucial Barcelona-Marseille (BarMar) interconnection by 2032. This capacity challenge highlights an urgent need for infrastructure expansion to avoid logjams in the future.
While Spain’s production looks set to exceed infrastructure limits, France and Portugal play critical roles in this hydrogen ecosystem. France’s hydrogen consumption is projected to grow from 0.3 million tonnes in 2030 to 0.9 million tonnes by 2050, driven by industrial and aviation sector demands. Portugal, on the other hand, remains heavily focused on export, largely to Spain via the CelZa interconnection. Both countries contribute to the envisioned total export of up to 3 million tonnes to Germany by 2040, as indicated by H2Med estimates.
At the heart of this international network is Germany, which anticipates substantial domestic demand for hydrogen, projected between 17 and 21 million tonnes by 2040. The Wasserstoff-Kernnetz, a 9,000-kilometer hydrogen core network approved by Bundesnetzagentur (BNetZA), symbolizes this commitment. With an expected feed-in capacity of 101GW and a feed-out capacity of 87GW, this network is poised to interlink import terminals with industrial hubs across Germany, aligning with both German and EU hydrogen policies.
The consortium overseeing the existing H2Med framework—comprising operators like Enagás, NaTran (GRTgaz), OGE, REN, and Teréga—has plans to enhance this capacity. They aim to expand the H2Med Alliance and introduce a matchmaking platform for fostering new projects, thereby catalyzing further market developments.
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