The French and Belgian energy infrastructure companies, GRTgaz and Fluxys Hydrogen, a subsidiary of Fluxys Belgium, announce the launch of a market call to assess the needs and economic interest for the creation of an ‘open acces’ H₂ transport infrastructure between France and Belgium. This 150-kilometer network would aim to connect the industrial-port area of Dunkirk to the industrial zones of Ghent and Antwerp. The call for expressions of interest will be open from October 16 to November 29, 2024.

GRTgaz and Fluxys Hydrogen are positioning themselves as major players in the future interconnected H₂ networks at the European level. The creation of a H₂ transport network by pipelines connecting three major industrial ports of the North Sea (Dunkirk, Ghent, and Antwerp) marks an important step in the structuring of a H₂ transport network in Northwestern Europe.

These large industrial-port areas, characterized by the presence of heavy industries such as steel, refining, and chemicals, face significant decarbonization challenges and are currently developing numerous projects for the production and consumption of green and decarbonized H₂, which are essential levers in achieving European carbon neutrality goals.

The first projects for local H₂ transport networks in these clusters are under study for progressive commissioning by 2030. On the French side, GRTgaz is developing the DHUNE network at the Port of Dunkirk. On the Belgian side, Fluxys Hydrogen is moving forward to complete the first infrastructures by 2026.

In response to growing market demands, GRTgaz and Fluxys Hydrogen are now proposing a shared cross-border infrastructure of 150 km that will ensure connectivity between these three major industrial hubs, guaranteeing flexibility and supply diversity to all industries wishing to connect.

This call for market interest aims to take into account the future needs of the market. It is an essential prerequisite for the realization of this European interconnection, which was labelled a Project of Common Interest by the European Commission in 2024.

Sandrine Meunier, CEO of GRTgaz said, "We are proud of this collaboration with our long-standing partner Fluxys. Together, we are convinced that the future of renewable and low-carbon H₂ relies on the availability of infrastructures capable of transporting and storing large quantities of H₂, connecting production sites to consumption areas, both nationally and across Europe. This initiative is fully in line with our vision of building a European H₂ market and contributing to the decarbonization of our economy."

Pascal De Buck, CEO and Managing Director of Fluxys said, "Fluxys intends to develop the necessary H₂ infrastructure so that it is available when the industry needs it. This new collaboration with GRTgaz, a trusted partner of Fluxys for many years, aims to create a cross-border network between Belgium and France and is fully in line with our global approach to contributing to the construction of key infrastructure for the decarbonization of Northwestern Europe."