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Enagás’ Chairman, Antonio Llardén, and CEO, Arturo Gonzalo, met today with the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Salvador Illa; the Minister for Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, and Government spokesperson, Sílvia Paneque; and the Director General of L'Energètica, Daniel Pérez. The meeting, held at the Palau de la Generalitat, provided an update on the Conceptual Public Participation Plan (PCPP) for the Hydrogen Backbone Network in Catalonia, launched on 13 April.
The meeting also marked the launch today of the Public Participation Plan for the BarMar subsea hydrogen pipeline project, a key infrastructure initiative that will position Catalonia as a strategic green hydrogen hub in Europe.
Enagás Chairman Antonio Llardén stressed that “green hydrogen and our infrastructure will play a key role in enabling European heavy industry and other sectors, such as transport, to decarbonise while remaining competitive,” adding that “Europe now more than ever needs an energy system that provides strategic autonomy, especially in the current international environment. This will protect Europe against future uncertainty”.
Enagás CEO, Arturo Gonzalostated that "this Conceptual Public Participation Plan in Catalonia highlights the active role that municipalities, public authorities and citizens will play in the deployment of the Hydrogen Backbone Network", adding that "their participation is essential to the construction of this key strategic infrastructure for decarbonising industry and transport. The project will drive economic development and strengthen the competitiveness of Catalonia's industrial base, while establishing Catalonia as a pivotal point on the European energy map via the H2med corridor”. He also stressed that “the Public Participation Plan for the development of BarMar, which was presented today and is being developed in parallel on the French side, will also be crucial in giving citizens and institutions a say in this vital energy infrastructure for Europe”.
Progress on the PCPP for the Hydrogen Backbone Network in Catalonia
During the meeting, Enagás provided an update on the Network’s progress, characteristics and scope. The Network will strengthen Catalonia's position as a key industrial hub for economic and social development, as well as an essential connection point between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of the Europe.
The Hydrogen Backbone Network in Catalonia will run through 89 municipalities, connecting directly to the Enagás Regasification Terminal in Barcelona, one of the main energy hubs in the Mediterranean, further reinforcing Catalonia’s role as a strategic industrial hub and an export hub for renewable hydrogen.
The route in Catalonia comprises three sections forming part of two fundamental axes: the ‘Ebro Valley Axis’ and the ‘Levante Axis’. These converge in Catalonia, further strengthening its role as a link with the European corridors.
The ‘Ebro Valley Axis’ will be deployed in Catalonia via two main sections. The first section, which is 42 km long, will connect the province of Zaragoza with the municipality of Tivissa in the province of Tarragona. One of the three compressor stations of the Hydrogen Backbone Network will be located here, which is key to ensuring the system’s operational efficiency. The second section is 165 km long and will connect Tivissa with the Enagás regasification terminal in Barcelona. The ‘Levante Axis’ will consist of a 68 km section connecting Tivissa and Salzadella in the province of Castellón.
This development will enable a corridor integrating the various links in the renewable hydrogen value chain.
30 municipalities in Barcelona
In the province of Barcelona, the Network will run through the municipalities of Avinyonet del Penedès, Barcelona, Castellbisbal, Castellet i la Gornal, Castellví de la Marca, Castellví de Rosanes, Corbera de Llobregat, Cornellà de Llobregat, El Papiol, El Prat de Llobregat, Gelida, La Granada, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Martorell, Molins de Rei, Pacs del Penedès, Pallejà, Sant Andreu de la Barca, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí, Sant Llorenç d'Hortons, Sant Martí Sarroca, Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Santa Coloma de Cervelló, Santa Margarida i els Monjos, Subirats and Vilafranca del Penedès.
59 municipalities in Tarragona
In Tarragona, the route will run through Albinyana, Amposta, Ascó, Banyeres del Penedès, Batea, Benissanet, Bonastre, Bot, Bràfim, Camarles, Cambrils, Caseres, Constantí, Corbera d'Ebre, El Catllar, El Perelló, Els Pallaresos, Gandesa, Garcia, Ginestar, Godall, La Bisbal del Penedès, La Canonja, La Fatarella, La Galera, La Pobla de Montornès, La Secuita, La Sénia, L'Aldea, L'Ampolla, L'Arboç, Llorenç del Penedès, Masdenverge, Masllorenç, Montferri, Mont-roig del Camp, Móra d'Ebre, Móra la Nova, Perafort, Pratdip, Rasquera, Renau, Reus, Rodonyà, Sant Jaume dels Domenys, Santa Bàrbara, Santa Oliva, Tarragona, Tivissa, Tortosa, Ulldecona, Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant, Vespella de Gaià, Vilabella, Vila-seca, Vinyols i els Arcs, Vilalba dels Arcs, Vinebre and Vila Rodona.
The Conceptual Public Participation Plan in Catalonia will feature 89 information points, following the first event held on 13 April, as well as 16 face-to-face participatory workshops organised between 28 April and 13 May. The route’s design prioritises development alongside the existing natural gas network to minimise impact, and will be key to boosting industrial and territorial development while adding value to the hydrogen economy.
The plan has already been rolled out in 76 municipalities (out of a total of 89), and has received significant interest and participation.
Catalonia, starting point for the continent’s first cross-border subsea hydrogen pipeline
During the meeting, Antonio Llardén and Arturo Gonzalo informed President Salvador Illa of the launch today of the Public Participation Plan for the BarMar subsea hydrogen pipeline, the interconnection that will link Barcelona and Marseille as part of the European H2med corridor.
The hydrogen pipeline will extend for approximately 400 km and have a capacity of 2 Mt/year. It will feature a compression station located at the Enagás facilities in the Port of Barcelona.
H2med is a European project that aims to connect the hydrogen networks of the Iberian Peninsula with those of France and Germany. The project will support hydrogen supply and demand by connecting different industrial clusters across the Iberian Peninsula and France. It aims to enable Europe to source renewable hydrogen from 2032 onwards.
The corridor has been designated an Energy Highway priority within the EU Grids Package, thereby reinforcing Europe’s commitment to green hydrogen as a strategic energy vector and aligning with Europe’s decarbonisation and strategic autonomy objectives.
In April this year, both the Spanish Hydrogen Backbone Network and the H2med corridor renewed their PCI status following the publication of the final list in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). In November 2023, the European Commission selected H2med for inclusion in the first Projects of Common Interest (PCI) list, highlighting that the CelZa corridor, which will connect Celorico da Beira (Portugal) and Zamora (Spain), and the BarMar project will make a significant contribution to sustainability, market integration, security of supply, and EU competitiveness.
The BarMar Public Participation Plan launches today in Catalonia
As part of a coordinated process involving Spain, through Enagás, and France, through NaTran and Teréga, and in accordance with European PCI regulations, the PCPP launches today in Catalonia. Until 2 July, the Plan will visit all 42 coastal municipalities involved, with information points in each one.
20 municipalities in Barcelona
In the province of Barcelona, the Plan will cover the municipalities of Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Badalona, Montgat, El Masnou, Premià de Mar, Vilassar de Mar, Cabrera de Mar, Mataró, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, Sant Vicenç de Montalt, Caldes d'Estrac, Arenys de Mar, Canet de Mar, Sant Pol de Mar, Calella, Pineda de Mar, Santa Susanna and Malgrat de Mar.
22 municipalities in Girona
In Girona, it will be deployed in Blanes, Lloret de Mar, Tossa de Mar, Santa Cristina d'Aro, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Castell d'Aro, Platja d'Aro i s'Agaró, Calonge i Sant Antoni, Palamós, Mont-ras, Palafrugell, Begur, Pals, Torroella de Montgrí, L'Escala, Sant Pere Pescador, Castelló d'Empúries, Roses, Cadaqués, El Port de la Selva, Llançà, Colera and Portbou.
The first two information points will open next Monday, 11 May, in Barcelona and El Prat de Llobregat.
The Plan also includes five participatory workshops in Barcelona, Malgrat de Mar, Llançá, Palamós and Roses, which all interested parties can attend.
An open and transparent participatory process
The Public Participation Plan for the Spanish Hydrogen Backbone Network in Catalonia is an open and transparent participatory process. As with BarMar, it gathers contributions from public authorities, organisations, associations and all citizens interested in participating. A final report summarising the outcomes of the process will then be drawn up.
With a total planned duration of 18 months, the PCPP of the Spanish Hydrogen Backbone Network is the largest public participation plan of its kind in Spain, covering 13 autonomous communities and more than 500 municipalities.
The Plan’s goal is to provide transparent information on the infrastructure, encourage the active participation of the territories, address concerns, and ensure that the development of the network incorporates the best social and environmental solutions from an early stage. The hydrogen backbone network will minimise environmental impact as it will follow the route of the current natural gas transmission network.
The project for the first axes of the Spanish Hydrogen Backbone Network involves developing around 2,600 kilometres of hydrogen infrastructure. The hydrogen economy is expected to generate over 32 billion euros of GDP in Spain and contribute to the maintenance of around 81,000 jobs during the development of the Backbone Network.
All available PCPP information can be found at https://www.infraestructurasdehidrogeno.es/en.
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