TUNISIA: TE H2, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Groupe, along with VERBUND, Austria’s leading electricity company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Tunisia to study the implementation of a large green hydrogen project named “H2 Notos” for export to Central Europe through pipelines.
The H2 Notos project aims to produce green hydrogen using electrolysers powered by large onshore wind and solar projects and supplied with desalinated seawater.
In its initial phase, the project targets an annual production of 200,000 tonnes of green hydrogen, with the potential to scale up to one million tonnes per year in South Tunisia.
The project will have access to the European market through the “SoutH2 Corridor,” a hydrogen pipeline project connecting North Africa to Italy, Austria, and Germany, which is expected to be commissioned around 2030.
TE H2, together with VERBUND, will lead the development, financing, construction, and operation of the integrated project, from the production of green electricity to the production of green hydrogen.
Additionally, VERBUND will coordinate the transport of the produced hydrogen towards Central Europe.
David Corchia, CEO of TE H2, expressed his delight in partnering with VERBUND for this ambitious endeavour, stating: “H2 Notos has the potential to become a significant supplier of green hydrogen for Europe while fostering significant job creation in Tunisia.”
Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Tunisia’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, highlighted the project’s significance in the country’s quest for clean, sustainable energy.
“Tunisia, firmly committed to its energy transition, sees in this project a strategic pivot to strengthen its attractiveness as a destination of choice for foreign investment in renewable energies,” she stated.
Michael Strugl, CEO of VERBUND AG, emphasised the importance of Tunisia as a competitive upstream region for scalable hydrogen production.
“By combining competitive hydrogen production in Tunisia and pipeline-based transportation, we can ensure a long-term supply at scale to support a sustainable transition of our customers to green hydrogen as well as support a sustainable economic development in Tunisia,” he added.
The project marks a significant step forward in the pursuit of clean energy and sustainable development, fostering collaboration between international partners and the Tunisian authorities.
