TE H2 and VERBUND sign MoU with Tunisia for major green hydrogen project

TE H2, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Groupe, along with Austria’s leading electricity company VERBUND, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Tunisia to explore the development of a substantial green hydrogen project named “H2 Notos” to export green hydrogen to Central Europe through pipelines.

H2 Notos is designed to harness electrolysers powered by large-scale onshore wind and solar installations, utilising desalinated sea water to produce green hydrogen.

In its initial phase, the project targets an annual production of 200,000 tons of green hydrogen, with plans to scale up to one million tons per year in South Tunisia.

The green hydrogen will be transported to the European market via the “SoutH2 Corridor,” a hydrogen pipeline connecting North Africa to Italy, Austria, and Germany, projected to be operational around 2030.

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.”

TE H2 and VERBUND will spearhead the project’s development, financing, construction, and operation, ensuring a seamless integration from green electricity production to green hydrogen generation. VERBUND will also manage the transportation of hydrogen to Central Europe.

Tunisia's strategic importance

The H2 Notos project represents a significant leap towards a greener future, promising to bolster Tunisia's renewable energy sector while addressing Europe’s growing demand for green hydrogen.

Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Tunisia's Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, highlighted the strategic importance of the agreement, " This agreement with TE H2 and VERBUND marks a significant step forward in our 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."

Michael Strugl, CEO of VERBUND AG, emphasised Tunisia’s role in their hydrogen strategy, saying that Tunisia is a particularly important upstream region in terms of scalability and competitiveness and a significant part of VERBUND's hydrogen plans.