Conexus joins the European Hydrogen Backbone Initiative

The single gas transmission and storage system operator Conexus Baltic Grid (Conexus) has become a member of the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) initiative. The initiative brings together 29 energy infrastructure operators from 27 European countries, united by a shared vision of a climate-neutral Europe.

With Conexus, six new members have joined the EHB initiative, including Amber Grid (Lithuania), Bulgartransgaz (Bulgaria), Gassco (Norway), Plinacro (Croatia) and REN (Portugal).

Since the launch of the initiative in 2020, EHB has contributed to the development of the European hydrogen market by publishing EHB Lead Maps with a vision for a European hydrogen transport infrastructure. The network maps and corresponding studies show how this vision is technically feasible and economically affordable. The contribution of the initiative has been welcomed by both hydrogen market players and policy makers. More recently, the European Commission's hydrogen and gas decarbonisation package, published in December 2021, included several references to EHB technical data.

In 2022, the EHB initiative will focus on the development of a feasibility study for hydrogen supply corridors and an assessment of the potential role of regional cooperation between infrastructure operators in the implementation of hydrogen supply corridors. In parallel, the initiative will update, expand and digitise the network maps, while also updating the EHB website to provide stakeholders with simplified access to up-to-date information.

Through these actions, EHB aims to accelerate Europe's decarbonisation journey by demonstrating the essential role of hydrogen infrastructure based on existing and new pipelines in the development of a competitive, liquid, Europe-wide market for renewable energy and low-carbon hydrogen. The initiative aims to promote market competition, security of supply and cross-border cooperation between European countries and their neighbours.

More information on the EHB initiative can be found here: https://gasforclimate2050.eu/ehb/