As part of the current Delegated Act, the European Commission has published the second list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMI) under the re-vised TEN-E regulation. With the publication of the new list, the strategic importance of the SoutH2 Corridor as one of Europe’s key hydrogen infrastructure initiatives is reaffirmed with the inclusion of all individual TSO projects part of the initiative.

PCIs play a central role in closing infrastructure gaps in the European energy network and demonstrate clear economic, environmental, and social benefits for the EU. The approxi-mately 3,300-kilometre corridor will establish one of the most important European import routes for renewable hydrogen from North Africa and the Southern Mediterranean.

HyPipe Bavaria – The Hydrogen Hub is part of the SoutH2 Corridor, an initiative formed by the international transmission system operators bayernets, Gas Connect Austria GmbH, TAG GmbH, and Snam Rete Gas (Snam).

The SoutH2 Corridor consists of four coordinated PCI projects:

• “HyPipe Bavaria – The Hydrogen Hub” (bayernets GmbH)
• “H2 Backbone WAG + Penta-West” (Gas Connect Austria GmbH)
• “H2 Readiness of the TAG Pipeline System” (TAG GmbH)
• “Italian H2 Backbone” (Snam Rete Gas)

Additionally, the North-Africa H2-Backbone — the offshore section from Cap Bon (Tunisia) to Mazara del Vallo (Italy) developed by SeaCorridor — has been included in the list as a PMI. This designation establishes a crucial link between hydrogen production hubs in North Africa and the SoutH2 Corridor network.

As a flagship project of bayernets GmbH and an integral hub of the German hydrogen core network and the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB), HyPipe Bavaria – The Hydrogen Hub strengthens the diversification of import routes from potential hydrogen-producing regions both inside and outside Europe, connecting them with industrial demand centres in southern Germany and beyond. Pipeline transport from North Africa is considered a particularly economically viable option.

Dr. Matthias Jenn, Managing Director of bayernets GmbH, welcomes the renewed confirma-tion by the European Commission: “HyPipe Bavaria – The Hydrogen Hub will play a decisive role in ensuring the reliable transport of hydrogen imports from southern Europe and North Africa to Germany. Its inclusion on the PCI list emphasizes the project’s significance for Eu-rope’s energy transition.”

With its HyPipe one subproject, bayernets has given the green light for the development of Bavaria’s hydrogen infrastructure in 2025. Germany’s import needs will be significantly in the future: by 2030, an estimated 50 to 70 percent of the country’s hydrogen consumption will need to be covered by imports. Forecasted demand ranges between 95 and 130 TWh nationwide and approximately 30.6 TWh for Bavaria. The planned pipeline route of about 300 kilometres will help secure this demand. Due to the high conversion rate of existing gas pipelines (approximately 95 percent), these will be completed in Burghausen by the end of 2026. These sections will be connected, thoroughly tested, and prepared for future hydrogen transport.

With the current PCI listing, the European Commission sends a clear signal: HyPipe Bavaria – The Hydrogen Hub is a key project for Europe’s energy transition and for ensuring security of supply in southern Germany and beyond.

More information on the initiative is available at www.hypipe-bavaria.com/en/ and www.south2corridor.net.