The production and transportation of “green hydrogen” is the big bet of the current decade for governments and companies on their way to an energy transition and zero emissions by 2050.

The idea of ​​generating electricity from hydrogen has been known for more than two centuries, and its presence in the market has lasted almost as long as the effort to move beyond the hydrocarbon economy. As science fiction, we find Jules Verne’s Wonderful Journeys in Five Weeks in a Balloon, published in 1863, in which the author recounts the adventures of an English scientist, Dr. Ferguson, exploring Africa in a balloon that uses hydrogen as fuel bag, and for heating gas.

Many years later, a real, not fictional, English scientist named Halban, in his famous lecture at the University of Cambridge in 1923, described a civilization powered solely by hydrogen, which would be produced by electrolysis from electricity generated by huge windmills. The hydrogen will be liquefied and stored in massive underground tanks to be converted into electricity when the winds stop blowing. Such a system, according to Halban, would decentralize energy production and eliminate pollution, as well as store wind energy for later use.

Although hydrogen is found in abundance, since it makes up 75% of the mass of the Universe, it does not exist in nature in its pure form and this is its negative side and a big challenge all these years. The hydrogen atom…does not like being alone and combines with other elements. The best known is water or hydrogen plus oxygen, and when combined with nitrogen, it forms ammonia, and when combined with carbon, hydrocarbons (oil, natural gas and coal). It is the creation and destruction of these compounds that he owes his ability to accumulate and release energy. Although this technology, electrolyte cracking and fuel cell storage, has been known for at least 100 years, its high production costs and transportation problems limit its production and use to a few specialized industrial operations, mainly in the refining sector.

The first serious studies on the mass commercial use of hydrogen as a transportation fuel began in the 1970s, just after the oil crisis, by major car manufacturers around the world to replace the internal combustion engine, but gradually fizzled out with falling oil prices.

The first studies on the mass commercial use of hydrogen began in the 1970s.

Climate change and the goals of a zero-emission economy have justified the hydrogen visionaries. More and more countries are setting ambitious targets for carbon neutrality, and hydrogen is becoming part of the solution. For the Commission, renewable hydrogen, also known as “green” hydrogen, will be the catalyst for a plan to move away from fossil fuels in industry and transport. The targets for the so-called “fuel of the future” were updated after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and plans for a quick exit from Russia. REPowerEU aims for Europe to produce 10 million tons of green hydrogen and import 10 million tons by 2030. The total investment needs for key categories of hydrogen infrastructure are estimated to range from 28 to 38 billion euros for the EU domestic pipeline and from 6 to 11 billion for storage. Without imports, Europe’s goals would be unattainable, and this is because huge areas are required to install photovoltaic plants that will produce the necessary energy for the production of hydrogen. To this end, for the first time, Europe will finance investments in renewable energy in third countries, as well as the necessary infrastructure for a long journey of fuel from Africa and Asia to Europe, while the corresponding financing packages should be approved no later than spring. 2023.

February 13, 2023 E.E. published proposed criteria to be met for hydrogen produced both within the EU and in third countries to be considered renewable. To facilitate the import of up to 10 million tonnes of green hydrogen, the Commission will support the development of three major hydrogen import corridors across the Mediterranean, the North Sea and, if conditions permit, through Ukraine.

Spain is already planning an underwater green hydrogen pipeline that will connect the port of Barcelona with the port of Marseille in France. The pipeline (BarMar) with a budget of 2.5 billion euros will be able to transport 2 million tons of hydrogen per year and is expected to be completed by the end of the decade.

The Commission’s plan includes a large hydrogen network of 40,000 kilometers that will cover the whole of Europe. Part of this network is a pipeline planned by DESFA to transport hydrogen along the existing central gas pipeline and will be connected to the corresponding network planned by Bulgaria.

Greece’s privileged position

Greece could become one of the most important hubs and entry points for hydrogen to the European market. The EU has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Egypt on hydrogen, and South Arabia is developing renewable hydrogen production plans that Europe sees. The countries of North Africa and the Middle East will be the main producers of hydrogen for the 10 million tons of imports that Europe has included in its strategic planning by 2030, while the countries of Southern Europe, such as Greece, will act as corridors for its transfer to the European market.

EastMed has the potential to become “the backbone of EU supply in the long term. with hydrogen”, according to the opinion expressed in the German newspaper Handelsblatt gg energy Alexander Sduku. In terms of infrastructure, DESFA has started construction of the first pipeline in Greece and one of the first in Europe to transport 100% hydrogen. This is the North Macedonia pipeline with a length of 160 km and a budget of 163 million. In addition, all new DESFA pipeline projects are designed to meet the specifications for transporting 100% hydrogen, while for existing pipelines, after the necessary interventions, hydrogen transport is also guaranteed from 10% to 20%. DESFA is also participating in the European Natural Gas Managers’ plan to create a 40,000 km pan-European hydrogen network that will connect 21 European countries. DESFA’s plans include the construction by 2040 of a pipeline along the existing central gas pipeline, which will be connected to the corresponding network planned by Bulgaria. New natural gas plants, such as the one built in Alexandroupoli jointly by PPC, DEPA and Damco Energy (Kopelousou Group), will also be able to run on hydrogen. At the business level, there are quite a few companies preparing for the new market, although a national hydrogen strategy plan is still missing. Established by the decision of the former Minister of Environment and Energy Kostis Hatzidakis in December 2020, the committee headed by NTUA Professor Pantelis Kapros handed over its work to Minister Kostas Skrekas since June last year. However, until now, and for no apparent reason, the political leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not made public the final plan. Thus, the implementation of two Greek projects is delayed, which the Commission included in the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI Hydrogen), having approved funding up to 800 million. These are the projects of B&T Composites (H2CAT project) and Advent (Green HiPo project). The White Dragon megaproject for the production of green hydrogen in Western Macedonia has been delisted and will be re-submitted for inclusion in the next phase.

The first steps in the new market were taken by Motor Oil, which received $40 million in EIB funding for a program to develop an extensive network of electric vehicles and hydrogen charging stations. HELLENiQ ENERGY is also promoting a green hydrogen pilot project. Linde Hellas has launched the production of green hydrogen at its facilities in Mandra Attica, and since May last year at the territory of EKEFE Demokritos in Ag. A hydrogen filling station in Greece is open on Friday.

Purposes and where it will be used first

The revised ESEK (National Energy and Climate Plan) plan, presented on January 18 by Minister of Environment and Energy Kostas Skrekas, lays the foundations for creating a green hydrogen economy. Targets set: 1.2 GW of electrolysis capacity to produce 205,000 tons of green hydrogen by 2030. Electrolysis capacity will increase to 2.4 GW in 2035 and hydrogen production to 0.5 Mt (metric tons). The upward trajectory continues with electrolysis capacity reaching 6 GW in 2040 and hydrogen production of 1 Mt and respectively 11.7 GW and 1.9 Mt in 2045 and 14.7 GW to produce 2.3 Mt of hydrogen in 2050.

According to the draft National Hydrogen Strategy, which was presented by the committee of Professor Pantelis Kapros to the Ministry of the Interior, the total turnover of the hydrogen supply chain in Greece will be in the order of 10 billion euros per year in 2050. The national strategy provides for accelerated procedures for licensing RES projects for hydrogen production and state aid until 2030 due to the immaturity of the technology, which makes the cost of investment very high.

Primarily, hydrogen will replace gray hydrogen in refineries and fuel ships and aircraft. The first stage also includes the renewal of the city bus fleet by 120-250 hydrogen buses in the centers of large cities and intercity buses by 30-50, city delivery trucks (5000-10000), heavy-duty garbage trucks (80-160), IX (30,000-60,000 ), trains (3-12 trains for electric propulsion), passenger-ferry ships, etc.

The national strategy also includes business initiatives in a number of sectors, such as the construction of the first ocean-going ships by Greek shipowners, the launch of a hydrogen ship connecting Piraeus to nearby Saronic destinations, and the modernization of the Crete North Road axis. (NORA) to the “hydrogen road” highway. It also includes the design of a “hydrogen island” modeled on the Mallorca pilot project, as well as the experimental use of hydrogen as a fuel for Navy submarines.

Numbers

10 million tons Europe plans to produce and import another 10 million tons of “green” hydrogen by 2030.
40,000 km will cover the European hydrogen network.
28-38 billion euros investments for domestic pipelines in the EU
6-11 billion euros investment in storage projects.