The European Union (EU) has approved €24 million in funding for the Italian H2 Backbone project, part of the SoutH2 Corridor—an infrastructure initiative designed to transport hydrogen from North Africa to Europe. The support was granted this month by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, which manages EU funds related to the green transition.
The funding is part of the Connecting Europe Facility for Energy, an EU program that supports projects of common interest in the energy sector. The funds will be allocated to Italian company Snam, which operates the national gas network, and will be used to finance engineering and environmental impact studies—essential steps before construction begins.
The SoutH2 Corridor plans to build 3,300 kilometers of dedicated hydrogen pipelines. This network is expected to enable the import of up to 4 million tonnes of hydrogen per year from North Africa to southern Germany. The project is considered crucial to the EU’s energy transition, aiming to gradually replace fossil fuels with cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. Development of the infrastructure is being carried out by four European operators: Italy’s Snam, Germany’s Bayernets, and Austrian companies Trans Austria Gas Pipeline and Gas Connect Austria. The goal is to establish an efficient and reliable energy link between the African and European continents, promoting a more sustainable energy model.
The Italian hydrogen backbone—an essential part of the corridor—will span around 1,900 kilometers. Approximately 60% of this network will be repurposed from existing natural gas pipelines. This reuse will significantly reduce project costs and speed up implementation.
The plan also includes the installation of several compression stations capable of generating several hundred megawatts of power. These stations are responsible for maintaining pressure and ensuring the continuous flow of hydrogen through the pipelines.
The corridor is expected to be operational by 2030. This initiative marks a significant step forward in the energy connection between Africa and Europe, enhancing Europe’s energy security and promoting the use of cleaner energy sources.
Source: Further Africa
