A joint venture between the TotalEnergies and Eren groups, and the Austrian electricity company Verbund, announced on Tuesday the inking of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tunisia. This agreement aims to set up a major green hydrogen production site in the south of Tunisia, hydrogentoday reports.
By 2030, the plant aims to produce 200,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year (equivalent to around a quarter of France’s annual hydrogen consumption). Ultimately, the group plans to produce 1 million tonnes a year.
A first phase will be built specifically from the production site to the north Tunisian coast. The hydrogen will then be transported via a pipeline that currently carries gas. According to David Corchia, Managing Director of TE H2, pipeline transport is less costly than a double conversion to ammonia, which would require transport by ship. The hydrogen would then transit through the future SoutH2 corridor pipeline, which is due to reach Europe via Italy by 2030.
This southern European country is likely to become a major hub for hydrogen imports from Africa. Italy has already signed an agreement with Algeria, and is also interested in hydrogen from Morocco, the same sourece adds.
This hydrogen could then reach other European countries such as Austria and Germany. While the European Union is aiming for a balanced mix of imports and local production, Germany is clearly banking on imports. In addition to the H2Med project, the country is signing more and more international agreements, for example with Canada and Australia.
Called “H2 Notos”, the project involves producing hydrogen by electrolysis (from desalinated seawater), using electricity generated by solar and wind power. The hydrogen produced will then be exported from Tunisia to Europe via a pipeline.
TunisianMonitorOnline
