During the first months of the JUST-GREEN AFRH2ICA project, Artelys used its experience in reference prospective exercises on the European energy system to help identify the main hydrogen corridors for African green H2 imports.
With the help of CEA and Università degli Studi di Genova, the 2050 ambitions for North African import volumes were compared with currently projected cross-border transmission capacities between European countries. First observations suggest that both the volumes and the vectors of African green H2 imports are likely to become key drivers of infrastructure needs in the European energy system. In particular, for a given import volume, the complementary roles of pipeline and ship transportation may significantly influence the spatial distribution of the main H2 transmission routes across Europe, which would require adaptations of cross-border and storage capacities at the country level.
First insights into these conclusions were presented at the Project’s M5 General Assembly in Madrid in June, at the premises of IMDEA Energy. The complete analysis will be presented in one of the first deliverables of the project, in the form of an assessment of existing EU hydrogen strategies and roadmaps.
In addition, this work prepares for of future steps of the JUST-GREEN AFRH2ICA project, where Artelys Crystal Super Grid will be used to model the impact of African green H2 imports on the European energy system.