RINA, an inspection and certification firm, along with engineers from Afry, have conducted an initial study exploring the possibility of connecting the Gulf region and Europe through a direct pipeline for the transportation of low-carbon hydrogen. The results of the study suggest that this venture could unlock the immense potential of the Gulf as a cost-effective source of low-carbon hydrogen for Europe.
With an abundance of renewable energy sources and natural gas reserves, the Gulf has the opportunity to become a prominent global producer of green and blue hydrogen, as well as ammonia and other synthesis products. While the idea of a hydrogen link spanning Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe may seem ambitious, the initial assessment indicates that it is indeed feasible.
The analysis conducted by RINA and Afry indicates that such a pipeline configuration could transport approximately 100TWh or 2.5 million tonnes of hydrogen annually. Furthermore, by constructing additional pipelines, the transport capacity could be significantly increased.
The estimated cost of transporting hydrogen through this route is approximately €1.2 per kilogram of H2. The Gulf countries, on the other hand, could supply green and blue hydrogen to Europe at Levelised Costs Of Delivered Hydrogen (LCODH) of around €2.7 per kilogram, starting from the 2030s and decreasing to around €2.3 per kilogram in the long term.
Antonio Nodari, an executive management team member at Afry, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “The collaboration between RINA and Afry provides a unique and highly interesting view of a significant opportunity to take a step forward in the green energy transition for Europe and the MENA region. As well as understanding the opportunities, the expert team who have worked on this report have a realistic view of the obstacles that need to be overcome and have the solutions to address those challenges.”
Andrea Bombardi, the executive vice president of RINA, added, “Through the combined expertise of Afry and RINA, this first-of-its-kind study considers routing alternatives, technical parameters and feasibility, especially for the deep-sea pipeline section, geo-strategic framework conditions, and top-level economic estimates of a direct hydrogen pipeline link between the Gulf and Europe as an element of an integrated green energy and industry system across Europe and MENA. The findings of the study represent a decisive contribution to boost the hydrogen economy. Together with Afry, we have identified a potential stable corridor to bring supply and demand together. The scale-up of hydrogen adoption goes through projects like this.”
This ambitious project, if realized, has the potential to revolutionize the energy landscape, providing Europe with a reliable and sustainable source of low-carbon hydrogen while leveraging the Gulf's renewable energy potential. The collaboration between RINA and Afry marks a significant step forward in the transition towards greener energy solutions for both Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
