H2MED is a major European infrastructure project designed to transport renewable hydrogen across the Iberian Peninsula and into the heart of Europe. Often referred to as the “green hydrogen corridor,” H2MED will serve as a hydrogen pipeline network connecting Portugal, Spain, and France, with future extensions toward Germany and other EU countries.
The project is part of the European Union’s broader strategy to develop a hydrogen backbone that accelerates the decarbonization of energy systems while strengthening energy security, regional integration, and cross-border cooperation.
What is H2MED?
H2MED is a transnational pipeline project proposed jointly by Portugal, Spain, and France, with support from the European Commission. It is designed to:
- Transport green hydrogen—produced via electrolysis using renewable energy—across long distances.
- Connect southern Europe’s abundant renewable resources with northern European demand centers.
- Contribute to the EU’s ambition of producing 10 million tonnes and importing 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually by 2030, as outlined in the REPowerEU plan.
The main pipeline route will run from:
- Celorico da Beira (Portugal) → Zamora (Spain) → Barcelona (Spain) → Marseille (France)
This will include a subsea section between Barcelona and Marseille, known as BarMar.
Objectives and Strategic Role
The H2MED project is not just an infrastructure project—it is a strategic enabler of the European hydrogen economy. Its key objectives include:
- Facilitating hydrogen transport at scale from renewable-rich regions to high-demand industrial zones.
- Decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, chemicals, and long-haul transport.
- Enhancing EU energy independence by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and external energy suppliers.
- Supporting sector coupling, enabling hydrogen to link electricity, heating, and mobility sectors.
- Stimulating green investment and job creation across southern and central Europe.
The pipeline is designed to be dedicated exclusively to hydrogen, making it one of the first large-scale hydrogen corridors in Europe.
Timeline and Funding
- The H2MED initiative was first announced in December 2022.
- It is expected to be operational by 2030, aligning with the EU’s renewable hydrogen targets.
- In January 2023, the project was recognized as a Project of Common Interest (PCI) by the European Commission.
- It will be eligible for funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and possibly other EU green investment programs.
Initial investment estimates exceed €2.5 billion, with support expected from both public and private stakeholders.
Technical Features
While detailed engineering is still under development, the pipeline is expected to include:
- A length of over 1,000 km, including both overland and subsea sections.
- A capacity of around 2 million tonnes of hydrogen per year.
- Compatibility with European Hydrogen Backbone standards.
- Compression, monitoring, and control systems to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation.
The system will be integrated with other hydrogen infrastructure, storage facilities, and electrolyzer plants across the Iberian Peninsula.
Benefits of H2MED
H2MED provides numerous environmental, economic, and geopolitical benefits:
- Accelerates renewable hydrogen adoption by enabling large-scale distribution.
- Connects energy supply and demand across national borders, improving market efficiency.
- Reduces GHG emissions by replacing fossil-based fuels in industry and transport.
- Improves grid stability by allowing the storage and transport of excess renewable electricity in the form of hydrogen.
- Promotes regional development by turning southern Europe into a green energy exporter.
