Portugal’s hydrogen initiative, the H2Sines.RDAM electrolyser project in Sines, has been designated as one of the transboundary energy ventures eligible to seek financial support from the EU due to alignment with the Green Deal. The EU Commission published a list on Tuesday, emphasizing the project’s commitment to sustainable practices.
Despite sharing a name resemblance with another project under investigation in Portugal, an official from the European Commission clarified that H2Sines.RDAM is a distinct initiative. The source from the Energy Ministry acknowledged the similar names but asserted that they pertain to different projects. The ministry has not received specific information on ongoing investigations within Portugal’s hydrogen and lithium sectors.
H2Sines.RDAM is designed as a maritime renewable liquid hydrogen supply chain connecting Sines and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Expanding on hydrogen interconnections in Western Europe, Brussels has identified the “Portugal – Spain – France – Germany corridor” as a project of common interest. This corridor encompasses internal hydrogen infrastructures in Portugal, connections between Portugal and Spain, Spanish internal infrastructure, the “Spain – France hydrogen interconnection” (known as BarMar), and infrastructures in France linked to Germany.
In October 2022, Portugal, France, and Spain collaborated to accelerate Iberian Peninsula interconnections. They transitioned from a gas-only project to a maritime pipeline supporting both fossil fuel and future ‘green’ h2 transportation. This “Green Energy Corridor” (BarMar) between Barcelona and Marseille is preferred over a route through the Pyrenees (MidCat).
Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa expressed hope for European funds financing this new project through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) once recognized as a project of common interest. The recent classification grants such projects access to accelerated licensing and financing processes.
Among the selected projects is another Portuguese initiative involving electricity interconnections, specifically a Portugal-Spain interconnector connecting Beariz (Ourense), Ponte de Lima, and Vila Nova de Famalicão.
The EU executive, in a statement on Tuesday, declared this step as part of preparing the EU’s energy system for the future, aligning with the European Green Deal. These recognized projects will enjoy simplified licensing and regulatory procedures, becoming eligible for EU financial support through the CEF. The first call for proposals is expected in the first half of the next year, with results anticipated by the end of 2024.
