Wednesday, 2 April 2025
Home Topics Climate Emissions Italy, Germany, Austria sign cooperation deal on southern hydrogen link
EmissionsHydrogenNewsPoliticsTradeTransmission

Italy, Germany, Austria sign cooperation deal on southern hydrogen link

104
Robert Habeck (Alliance 90/The Greens), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, speaks at a press statement on the cabinet decision on the Hydrogen Acceleration Act and the Carbon Management Strategy

MILAN/BERLIN (Reuters) – Italy, Germany and Austria have signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of a network to transport hydrogen from the southern Mediterranean to northern Europe, the energy ministries of the three countries said on Thursday.

The official announcement, which confirms what sources told Reuters on Tuesday, marks a concrete step in the European Union’s strategy to secure renewable hydrogen supplies by 2030 to help decarbonise its most polluting industries.

“The Southern Hydrogen Corridor will provide renewable hydrogen imports from North Africa via southern Italy and further connect to the major hydrogen demand hubs in Italy, Austria and Germany,” the German ministry said in a statement.

The link dubbed SoutH2, which last year won priority status from the European Commission, is considered important to develop a European market for the renewable fuel.

A group of companies including Italian gas grid operator Snam has teamed up to build the SoutH2 pipeline by the beginning of the next decade, with a financial commitment of more than 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion).

“The southern corridor will play an important role, especially in supplying the southern German states with green hydrogen,” Germany’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck said in a statement.

Last year sources told Reuters Italy was in preliminary talks with Bavaria’s government to supply gas and hydrogen to the southern German state, adding Rome also aimed to sell energy to Austria.

The European Union aims to produce 10 million metric tons and import 10 million tons of green hydrogen by 2030 in a bid to replace fossil fuels, which emit planet-warming gases when burned.

Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water through electrolysis using renewable energy.

($1 = 0.9247 euros)

(Reporting by Francesca Landini in Milan, Angelo Amante in Rome, Markus Wacket in Berlin; Editing by Keith Weir)

Related Articles

Lilium burnt through huge sums while trying to develop its jet (AFP)

German flying taxi start-up’s rescue deal collapses

A German flying taxi start-up said on Friday it would halt operations...

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum speaks as he attends a signing ceremony with members of the West Virginia Congressional Delegation at the EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo

US energy council chief says power plants to produce 15% more electricity

By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Interior Secretary and co-chair of...

Cuba has inaugurated a new solar energy park in the capital Havana (AFP)

Cuba opens solar park hoping to stave off blackouts

Cuba on Friday unveiled a new solar energy park in the capital...

FILE PHOTO: Cranes unload imported iron ore from a cargo vessel at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

Iron ore heads for weekly gain on brightening demand outlook, China stimulus hopes

By Amy Lv and Lewis Jackson BEIJING (Reuters) -Iron ore futures prices...