TE H2, a joint venture between the TotalEnergies and Eren groups, and the Austrian electricity company Verbund announced on Tuesday the signing of an MoU with Tunisia. The aim is to set up a major green hydrogen production site in the south of the country.
The aim is to produce 200,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year by 2030 ( i.e. around a quarter of France’s annual hydrogen consumption). Ultimately, the group aims to produce 1 million tonnes a year.
Called “H2 Notos”, the project aims to produce hydrogen through electrolysis (using desalinated seawater), using solar and wind-generated electricity. The hydrogen produced will then be exported from Tunisia to Europe through a pipeline.
From Tunisia to Europe
A first portion will be specifically built from the production site to the north Tunisian coast. Hydrogen will then be transported via a marine pipeline that currently carries gas. According to David Corchia, Managing Director of TE H2, transport by pipeline is less expensive than a double conversion into ammonia that would require transport by ship. The hydrogen would then transit through the future SoutH2 corridor pipeline, expected 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 showing an interest in hydrogen from Morocco.
It is worth noting that this hydrogen could subsequently 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 an increasing number of international agreements, for instance with Canada and Australia.
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Article written by Logan King and translated by Mariem Ben Tili
