Gulf-to-Europe hydrogen pipeline seen as feasible, study says

A hydrogen pipeline from the Gulf region, which is set to become a global key producer of low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives, to Europe appears to be a challenging but feasible initiative that would involve about EUR 28 billion (USD 30.57bn) in capital expenditure, a new study shows.

A properly designed pipeline linking Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and extending across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe could transport around 100 TWh or roughly 2.5 million tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen per year, according to consulting engineering company RINA and engineering and advisory service provider AFRY. Furthermore, the transport capacity could be substantially increased by constructing more pipelines of a similar kind.

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According to the findings, the pipeline has the potential to transport hydrogen at an initial cost of approximately EUR 1.2 (USD 1.31) per kilogramme. As for the levelised costs of delivered hydrogen (LCODH), estimates indicate it to be around EUR 2.7 per kilogramme in the 2030s and around EUR 2.3 in the longer term.

The pipeline could be a viable complement to the widely discussed transportation of hydrogen derivatives to Europe by ship.

After reaching Greece, the study proposes various potential routes spanning approximately 2,500 km (1,553 miles) to connect with different demand clusters in Europe. The report emphasises that this connection relies on the technical feasibility of establishing a pipeline link between the Port Said area in Egypt and either Sicily in Italy or the Peloponnese in Greece.