EUROPEAN HYDROGEN BACKBONE

EHB initiative to provide insights
on infrastructure development

by 2030

10 July 2023

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European Hydrogen Backbone

Table of Contents
EHB Maps update

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Context for the development of the network04

Upcoming EHB Fall 2023 study

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European Hydrogen Backbone

EHB Maps update
The European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) initiative is developing a vision for future hydrogenpipeline infrastructure to accelerate the clean energy transition across the European continent.
Currently, the EHB initiative has 32 members across 28 countries. The latest numbers publishedby EHB projecting the size of a pan-EU hydrogen network date from April 20221. In the interim,
the EHB dynamic online map has been updated to visually reflect an acceleration of all fivecorridors, as well as further development of national hydrogen infrastructure plans. Thispublication provides the first official update on the length of the EHB since April 2022.
Since the previous publication, EHB efforts have focused on quantifying the resources needed toimplement the envisioned hydrogen network by 2030. As a part of this work, we reassessed theproposed pipeline routes and distances. The overall growth in network length is displayed in Table 1;
for a visual overview of the current EHB vision, please consult our website.
The new update shows that repurposed pipelines are still a clear majority of the overall
network, and that for both 2030 and 2040 networks, the total length of repurposed pipelines
has increased. Please note, however, that the increase in total pipeline length for the 2040
network is still mainly due to newly built pipelines. The previous EHB vision—as laid out in thereport ‘A European hydrogen infrastructure vision covering 28 countries’1—was published rightafter Russia invaded Ukraine and the European Commission published their REPowerEU
targets. Because of these developments and the increased importance of maintaining securityof supply, several natural gas pipelines that are currently in operation are to be utilised longer
than previously expected, explaining why a large part of the projected growth stems fromnewly-built hydrogen pipelines.
TABLE 1. Overview size of the envisioned EHB network
Report April 20221
Year

Current values
2030

Overall length, km

27,98632,61617%

Length of repurposed pipelines, km

13,47916,86425%

Year2040

Overall length, km

53,087

57,6629%

Length of repurposed pipelines, km

33,70334,2902%

A European hydrogen infrastructure vision covering 28 countries, European Hydrogen Backbone, 2022. Source:
https://ehb.eu/files/downloads/ehb-report-220428-17h00-interactive-1.pdf
1% Increase

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European Hydrogen Backbone

EHB Vision 2030

EHB Vision 2040

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European Hydrogen Backbone

Context for the development of the network
A European Hydrogen Backbone connecting countries across Europe contributes to asustainable and affordable energy supply, while allowing for the scale-up of domestic hydrogenproduction that contributes to energy independence2. Furthermore, the EHB facilitates the transportof both domestically-produced and imported hydrogen, traveling either through pipelines or as
shipped liquids.

There is a perception that the hydrogen economy is not growing as fast as possible, perhaps
because supply, demand, infrastructure, and regulatory actors are all waiting on each other intaking a first steps toward growth—a problem often referred to as the chicken and egg problem.
The joint vision of the members of the EHB initiative includes the view that building sufficiently
sized infrastructure is the most cost-effective, long-term solution to this problem.
Market consultations in many countries are indicating an emerging hydrogen demand, and manyindustries view hydrogen as a key pillar of their decarbonisation strategy. To be able to supply
this emerging demand, sufficient infrastructure must be in place and speed is essential. That is
why existing permitting processes governing the build-out of a hydrogen conveyance network
must be accelerated in a way that helps the EU reach its targets.
Well-chosen and adequately sized hydrogen corridors can bring together regions with abundant,
low-cost hydrogen supply with areas projecting a large hydrogen demand. However, thesepipelines must be sized to with foresight to accommodate the expected future hydrogen flows,
avoiding insufficient transport capacity as a potential bottleneck for Europe’s decarbonisation.
Oversizing of hydrogen pipelines—namely the significant costs of doing so—increases risks for
the TSOs who will operate future hydrogen infrastructure. This risk must be mitigated toincentivise hydrogen infrastructure build-out.
Furthermore, EHB members believe that early clarity about the phasing of hydrogen networkbuild-out enables the market to decarbonise the energy system at the lowest societal cost. Assuch, it is important to provide credible information about expected hydrogen infrastructuredevelopment to the multitude of actors in the hydrogen value chain.

Assessing the benefits of a pan-European hydrogen transmission network, Gas for Climate, 2023. Source:
https://gasforclimate2050.eu/publications/2

05European Hydrogen Backbone

Upcoming EHB Fall 2023 study
The EHB initiative is publishing a new study in 2023 which elaborates on the still existent
challenges spanning the hydrogen value chain. Given the 2030 timeline, these challenges must
be overcome as soon as possible to accommodate the full build-out of European Hydrogen
Backbone.
A significant focus of the upcoming study is to quantify the financial challenges facing the EHB,
particularly those relating to the reduction of investment risks. In the European Commission’s 9th
Energy Infrastructure Forum in Copenhagen, the Commission has recognised the urgency of thesefinancial challenges, asking several bodies such as the European Hydrogen Bank and theEuropean Clean Hydrogen Alliance to develop tools to address parts of this problem3. The EHB
both quantifies and discusses these challenges and in its upcoming paper, aiming to contribute to
the dialogue around possible solutions.
The EHB initiative will assess and publish the financial investment required for EHB network buildout, defining and updating key cost metrics associated with hydrogen infrastructure build-out. The
paper argues how early hydrogen infrastructure works to enable the European energy transition,
facilitating large-scale deployment of renewable energy and hydrogen production. Cross-borderinfrastructure is a crucial component of the energy value chain – connecting supply with demandand creating the future hydrogen market. Creation of cross-border infrastructure sends importantsignals to market participants, project developers, and downstream end-users. Innovative tools
are required to accelerate its development, including supportive funding and policy proposals toreduce the financial risks around network build-out.
The paper will also highlight a set of in-progress hydrogen infrastructure projects—representing
all EHB corridors across Europe—that demonstrate how the committed, tangible ambitions ofTSOs are backed by concrete projects. Subsequently, the study considers the conditions
required to deploy a pan-EU hydrogen transmission network, such as supporting domesticsupply, facilitating hydrogen imports, the need for urgency due to the construction lead times oftypical infrastructure projects, workforce needs, and the importance of energy system integration.

3

9th Energy Infrastructure Forum Conclusions, European Comission,2023. Source:

http://www.cedec.com/files/default/conclusions%209th%20eif_%2012%20and13%20june%20final-1.pdf