MidHY and HySoW selected for inclusion in the list of Projects of Common Interest
NaTran and Teréga, welcome the European Commission’s announcement that the MidHY and HySoW projects have been selected for inclusion in the list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) presented on 1 December (Delegated Act proposal).
A major decision for the H2med project
The European Commission has reaffirmed the PCI status of the H2med project through its cross-border components, CelZa et BarMar, confirming the significant progress already achieved. This solid foundation strengthens the momentum of the corridor, as the PCI list now includes the extension to other key projects aligned with the vision of Europe’s Hydrogen Corridor. New infrastructure has been incorporated, including MidHY and HySoW, further consolidating H2med’s ambition to become a fully integrated and resilient hydrogen backbone, ready to connect Southwestern Europe with the major consumption centres of Central European countries.
The advantages of the HySoW project
The HySoW (Hydrogen South-West) project is particularly important as it represents a dedicated hydrogen transmission network in Southwestern France, spanning more than 650 km and integrating large-scale underground storage capacity in the Landes region, which is hoped to reach up to 500 GWh by 2030.
The advantages of the MidHY project
The MidHY project, stretching approximately 200 km, will connect HySoW to the HY-FEN project developed by NaTran – the French backbone of the H2med initiative, which runs from southern France (Bouches-du-Rhône) to the north (Moselle). Its key role in the energy transition was underscored last July by the support of the five Regions it crosses1.
1 The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est, Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions – find the press release
Land-use planning: the roles of the MidHY and HySoW projects
For the greater South of France, NaTran’s MidHY project and Teréga‘s HySoW project aim to interconnect and decarbonise the industrial and mobility hubs of the Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regions through the use of green and low-carbon energy flows. These initiatives will play a central role in regional development, contributing to economic growth, industrial attractiveness and national energy sovereignty. The Calls for Expression of Interest (CEI) conducted by Teréga and NaTran in recent years have revealed, on the one hand, an anticipated demand for significant volumes in the region driven by the chemical industry and the production of e-fuels for the mobility sector, and, on the other hand, an excess of hydrogen production in the South West compared to local consumption. This surplus could also be transported via HY-FEN to meet the needs of other regions in France and other European countries, particularly Germany.
The inclusion of these projects in the proposed Delegated Act represents a major development accelerator. The PCI label grants them access to simplified authorisation procedures and potential financial support under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Energy.
