H2med Southwestern Hydrogen Corridor – SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar takes part in alliance to accelerate decarbonization through the implementation of the Southwestern Hydrogen Corridor

This initiative aims to accelerate the decarbonization of industrial regions through the implementation of the H2med Southwestern Hydrogen Corridor by the beginning of the 2030’s, with the objective of fostering a robust hydrogen value chain. This effort reflects a shared vision of climate neutrality in Europe driven by renewable and low-carbon hydrogen. In this context, the Alliance will contribute towards the decarbonization and energy transition goals of the European Green Deal and Fit for 55, in alignment with the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP), the vision articulated in Mario Draghi´s report and the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal.The Alliance was announced at an event at the German Embassy in Madrid titled, “Scaling Up Green Hydrogen for Domestic Use and Export”, which was attended by Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Joan Groizard Payeras, Secretary of State for Energy at the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, João Mira-Gomes, Portuguese Ambassador to Spain and Maria Margarete Gosse, German Ambassador to Spain.

This cross-cutting, multiregional and multisectoral collaboration will play a crucial role in establishing a solid foundation to drive both hydrogen supply and demand, creating optimal conditions to develop strategic projects. The Alliance will foster collaboration and communication among members across all sectors of the hydrogen value chain (production, technology, consumption, transport…). This multilateral coordination is a key element in generating a real, long-term force to propel the sector forward.

This Alliance will drive domestic hydrogen markets and decarbonization in their respective countries, by creating incentives to scale up production and consumption capacities, while integrating energy supply and demand across Europe.

Given the strategic role of hydrogen in the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors (industry and maritime, aviation and heavy transport), it is essential to develop a trans-European hydrogen ecosystem and establish a single hydrogen market. This will ensure the competitiveness of the European industry as well as the long-term security of energy supply and resilience of the European energy system. The Alicante Declaration, signed by the European leaders during Euromed summit in 2022, underscored the European commitment to seek collective solutions to the energy crisis, with a focus on hydrogen and its transportation as key elements for the continent's energy independence.

Through this Alliance, the participants will establish a framework for cooperation to contribute to the development of the Southwestern Hydrogen Corridor, primarily shaped by the H2Med, HY-FEN and HySoW pipeline projects, the Portuguese and Spanish backbone networks, in connection with OGE´s pipelines as part of the central German hydrogen network, all of which are recognized as Projects of Common Interest (PCI) by the European Union.

Moreover, the members of the Alliance will collaborate to reinforce the deployment of hydrogen network projects as well as to connect hydrogen production, storage and consumption projects, thereby contributing to the growth of the hydrogen economy in Europe. To achieve this, members will meet regularly to ensure coordination and to identify and share synergies and opportunities. This is an open Alliance that aims to incorporate additional companies and regions in the near future, while also calling on support from governments.