RINA, the inspection, certification and consulting engineering specialist, and AFRY, a prominent European firm in engineering, design, and advisory services, have undertaken an initial study of how the Gulf region and Europe could be linked directly with a pipeline to transport low-carbon hydrogen, a likely key component in climate-friendly energy and industry systems of the future.
The results indicate a ‘transformative opportunity’ to fully unlock the Gulf's immense potential as a cost-effective source of low-carbon hydrogen for Europe.
With abundant renewable energy sources and natural gas reserves, the Gulf region is set to become a leading global producer of green and blue hydrogen, ammonia and other synthesis products.
The concept of a hydrogen pipeline connecting Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and traversing the Mediterranean Sea to Europe may seem ambitious, say RINA and AFRY, but initial assessment indicates its feasibility. The analysis shows that a suitable pipeline configuration could transport 100 TWh or approximately 2.5 million tonnes of hydrogen annually. Moreover, by constructing additional pipelines of the same nature, the transport capacity could be significantly scaled up.
The cost of transporting hydrogen through this pipeline is initially seen at approximately 1.2 €/kg H2. The Gulf countries, in turn, could supply green and blue hydrogen to the economic hub of Europe at levelised costs of delivered hydrogen (LCODH) of around 2.7 €/kg starting from the 2030s, decreasing to around 2.3 €/kg in the longer term.
Recent geopolitical challenges have forced Europe to explore alternative avenues for energy security, including linking the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe by pipeline, which was investigated for the EastMed Natural Gas project. At the same time, the discussion around exporting hydrogen and its synthesis products from the Gulf to Europe is currently revolving around transport by shipping. These options receive EU subsidies and drive activity within the gas/hydrogen industry, but they may not be most efficient for bulk transport. A competitive and actionable pipeline project from the Gulf region in the near future could provide a viable and powerful complement.
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