Spain, Italy and France push the accelerator on energy transition. European transmission system operators (TSOs). Enagás (Spain), Snam (Italy) e Grtgaz (France) signed an agreement in Paris to launch joint investment initiatives aimed at boosting the development of the European hydrogen ecosystem, in line with the decarbonisation objectives set by the European Union.
As a first joint action, the three operators will each invest 33 million euros in the Clean H2 Infra Fund - managed by Hy24, a joint venture between Ardian and FiveT Hydrogen - the largest investment platform globally in infrastructure for theclean hydrogen.
With this investment (100 million in total) the three TSOs aim to promote the clean hydrogen industry with a positive impact on the use and development of transmission networks.
Marcelino Ear, CEO of Enagás, said: “European Transmission System Operators are key players in the fight against climate change” and that “they will play an important role in the future decarbonisation of energy”.
Marco Alvera, CEO of Snam, commented: “With this agreement, three major European grid operators are committed to working together to contribute to the acceleration of the energy transition across the continent and beyond, in line with the Fit for 55 package and with the European hydrogen strategy. Our transportation and storage infrastructures are gearing up for hydrogen in order to enable a more efficient decarbonization path. We are ready to share our expertise and support new investment initiatives such as the Clean H2 Infra Fund to promote green hydrogen projects and help achieve zero emissions targets”.
Thierry Trouve, managing director of Grt, recalled that hydrogen, in the future, "will play an important role in balancing the electricity system and in the decarbonisation of industry"".
The three European network operators are already part of the European Hydrogen Backbone Initiative, whose most recent study foresees the possibility of creating a pan-European infrastructure for the transport of hydrogen, largely based on the "repurposing" of the gas networks, which could extend for almost 40 km by 2040, connecting 19 Member States of the 'EU plus Great Britain and Switzerland.
