BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 24. Out of the fourteen potential supplier countries for renewable hydrogen, only six have indicated clear intentions to export hydrogen to the European Union (EU) by 2030, Trend reports.
The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES) believes that these prominent candidates for hydrogen supplies include Australia, Chile, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. However, it is important to note that the analysis does not consider existing competencies in pipelines or ammonia, which could impact the actual sources of hydrogen for the EU.
The EU's policy on future import supplies of hydrogen suggests that it will primarily rely on pressurized hydrogen pipelines or shipping hydrogen in the form of ammonia or its derivatives. Comparing these two delivery methods in terms of cost, pipelines are expected to be more economical for shorter to medium distances.
However, the construction of pipeline projects, especially those crossing national boundaries, is characterized by long lead-times despite relatively short construction durations. The actual timeline depends on factors such as pipeline length, complexity, environmental and social impact assessments, land acquisition processes, permitting procedures, and technical challenges.
Considering the lengthy lead-time and the various factors involved, it is speculated that hydrogen pipelines are unlikely to be operational in the EU before 2030. As a result, shipping ammonia is expected to be the preferred method for hydrogen deliveries until dedicated pipelines become more established.