TE H2, a joint-venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Groupe, together with VERBUND, Austria’s leading electricity company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tunisia.
TE H2, according to the agreement, will study the implementation of a large green hydrogen project named “H2 Notos” for export to Central Europe through pipelines.
H2 Notos aims to produce green hydrogen using electrolysers powered by large onshore wind and solar projects and supplied with desalinated sea water. The project aims to produce 200,000 tons of green hydrogen annually during its initial phase, with the potential to scale up production to one million tons 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 be leading the development, financing, construction, and operation of the integrated project from production of green electricity to production of green hydrogen. In addition, VERBUND will coordinate the transport of the produced hydrogen towards Central Europe.
David Corchia, CEO of TE H2, said: “H2 Notos has the potential to become a significant supplier of green hydrogen for Europe while fostering significant jobs creation in Tunisia.”
Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Tunisia’ Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, said: “This agreement with TE H2 and VERBUND marks a significant step forward in our quest for clean, sustainable energy.”
Michael Strugl, CEO of VERBUND AG, added: “Tunisia is a particularly important upstream region in terms of scalability and competitiveness and a significant part of VERBUND’s hydrogen plans.”