(Eat) - The European Hydrogen Backbone Initiative (EHB) has presented an updated version of its plans for hydrogen transport infrastructure across Europe. The group proposes to build a hydrogen network with a total length of 39.700 kilometers by 2040. The network would then connect 21 European countries. The previous version from July 2020 described a network of 23.000 kilometers for ten countries (we reported).
Two thirds use existing natural gas networks
About 69 percent of the proposed hydrogen network consists of repurposed existing natural gas networks. The remaining 31 percent of new pipelines to be built would be needed to connect new customers and would be in countries with small gas networks but with likely high future hydrogen demand and supply, according to the initiative.
The backbone planned for 2040 requires an estimated total investment of 43 to 81 billion euros. The investment costs per kilometer of pipeline are lower compared to last year's EHB report, which only included cost estimates for pipelines with a diameter of 48 inches, while the current report takes into account that a large part of today's natural gas infrastructure and future hydrogen infrastructure consists of smaller pipelines . “Smaller pipelines are cheaper to convert, but lead to slightly higher transport costs per kilometer.” Transporting hydrogen over 1.000 kilometers would cost an average of 0,11 to 0,21 euros per kilogram. This makes the EHB a “cost-effective option for transporting hydrogen over long distances”.
Transport routes and schedules of the hydrogen infrastructure maps are “not set in stone”. The final design and schedule depended on market conditions for hydrogen and natural gas as well as “the establishment of a stable, supportive and adaptable regulatory framework.” 
Europe must develop its own hydrogen infrastructure. “This new EHB report shows a clear roadmap for how this could work,” says Ad van Wijk, consultant at Hydrogen Europe. Daniel Muthmann, coordinator of the EHB initiative and head of corporate development, strategy, policy and communications at transmission system operator Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE), explains that the report shows that a pan-European hydrogen infrastructure is possible, based largely on reused existing gas infrastructure.
Picture above
Plan of a European H2 backbone for 2040 / © Guidehouse
Photo middle
“Extending the European Hydrogen Backbone Report”, free as PDF (32 pages, English) / © OGE, Guidehouse
