In a recent move, the EU commission happens to be supporting the cross-border hydrogen projects – RHYn-FR and RHYn-DE. For funding of €3.5 million. The Connecting Europe Facility for Energy (CEF) funding program is also supporting the planning work when it comes to the German grid operator terranets bw and NaTran, the French grid operator.
It is well to be noted that in Germany, terranets bw happens to be working together with badenovaNETZE, the distribution network operator, when it comes to the RHYn Interco hydrogen project.
Being the first 100% hydrogen network based out of Baden-Wurttemberg, it is going to connect the Freiburg im Breisgau area along with hydrogen production in France. Apparently, the CEF funding program happens to support projects that are classified by the commission as projects of common interest (PCI).
According to the managing director of terranets be, Katrin Flincpach, this EU funding highlights the significance of the PCI project when it comes to a secure as well as climate-friendly energy supply across Germany as well as Europe. He added that he is indeed very pleased that their commitment in order to develop a sustainable hydrogen infrastructure has gone on to get the recognition from the European side.
The potential of cross-border hydrogen connection
The head of the RHYn project at terranets BW, Stephanie Seybold, says that for a dependable hydrogen supply, Germany has to have diversified routes in terms of imports. She adds that RHYn Interco happens to create a high-performance connection for Baden-Wurttemberg when it comes to France, thereby helping with the transport of hydrogen, which is produced there and later imported by way of the Southwest Europe corridor.
The project happens to take its name from the cross-border hydrogen connection across the Rhine. RHYn happens to be the abbreviation for Rhine Hydrogen Network, whereas Interco stands for interconnection. RHYn Interco is part of the countrywide hydrogen core network, which looks forward to connecting production and import centers with a network that’s almost 9000 km long by 2032. Together in collaboration with the project partners, NaTran and badenovaNETZE, terranets BW happens to be working on the cross-border hydrogen connection, which connects the Southern Baden region of Baden-Wurttemberg with the Grand Est region of France.
It is well to be noted that beginning in 2029, consumers across the upper Rhine region are going to have access to a network that will transport 100% hydrogen. RHYn Interco is anticipated to be able to supply hydrogen to industrial as well as mobility customers as far as areas such as Offenberg and Kehl by 2035.