As part of Tunisia’s ambitious plan to export green hydrogen to European Union countries, the nation has partnered with TotalEnergies, EREN Groupe, and VERBUND to explore the development of the H2 Notos project.
This groundbreaking initiative aims to harness Tunisia’s abundant solar and wind resources to produce green hydrogen through electrolysis, using desalinated seawater.
H2 Notos: A Major Green Hydrogen Hub
With an initial target of producing 200,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, H2 Notos has the potential to scale up to a remarkable one million tons per year in South Tunisia. The project’s strategic location will grant it access to the European market via the SoutH2 Corridor, a hydrogen pipeline project connecting North Africa to Italy, Austria, and Germany. The commissioning of this project is anticipated around 2030.
This week, the parties involved signed a Memorandum of Understanding to study the feasibility and implementation of H2 Notos. TE H2, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Groupe, along with Austrian electricity company VERBUND, will spearhead the project’s development, financing, construction, and operation, from green electricity generation to green hydrogen production. VERBUND will also oversee the transportation of the produced hydrogen to Central Europe.
To achieve Tunisia’s ambitious goal of exporting six million tons of green hydrogen to Europe by 2050, the country recognizes the need to mobilize over 90GW of renewable energy. H2 Notos represents a significant step towards this goal, positioning Tunisia as a key player in the global green hydrogen market.
Green Hydrogen MoU: A Significant Step Forward for Tunisia and Europe
David Corchia, CEO of TE H2, celebrates the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Tunisia, marking the official commencement of the ambitious H2 Notos project. He emphasizes the project’s potential to become a major supplier of green hydrogen for Europe while creating substantial job opportunities in Tunisia. Corchia also highlights the upcoming phase of greenfield development and technical work to assess the project’s feasibility.
Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Tunisia’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, hails the agreement with TE H2 and VERBUND as a significant milestone in Tunisia’s pursuit of clean and sustainable energy.
Michael Strugl, CEO of VERBUND AG, underscores Tunisia’s importance as a scalable and competitive region for hydrogen production, aligning with VERBUND’s hydrogen plans. He reiterates the company’s goal of supplying European industry with green hydrogen and emphasizes the role of competitive production in Tunisia and pipeline-based transportation in ensuring a long-term, large-scale supply.
Overall, Tunisia’s Green Hydrogen Strategy, developed in collaboration with Germany’s GIZ, aims to export over six million tons of green hydrogen to Europe by 2050. This ambitious target underscores Tunisia’s commitment to becoming a key player in the global green hydrogen market.
Institute Raises Concerns over Tunisia-European Green Hydrogen Agreement
However, not everyone shares the enthusiasm for Tunisia exporting hydrogen to Europe. The Transnational Institute (TNI), an advocacy and research organization, has voiced concerns about Tunisia’s Green Hydrogen Strategy. They argue that while the strategy has received praise, it overlooks the potential negative impacts on Tunisia’s vital sectors and prioritizes EU needs over local interests.
A New Mechanism of Plunder and Exploitation?
In their article, “Green hydrogen in Tunisia: A new mechanism of plunder and exploitation,” the Working Group for Energy Democracy in Tunisia, who developed the piece for TNI, warns that implementing the green hydrogen strategy could turn Tunisia into a “subservient backyard and an energy reservoir for the EU.”
They argue that Europe stands to benefit on multiple levels. Not only will Europe receive the green hydrogen, but it will also manufacture the necessary equipment and technology, creating new markets for European industries and giving Europe control over emerging production and supply chains.
Furthermore, TNI points out that Tunisia will bear the burden of providing the natural resources needed for green hydrogen production, such as land, water, and solar energy, at very low costs. They caution that Tunisia will suffer the ecological and social consequences of this resource exploitation.
This raises important questions about the equitable distribution of benefits and costs in the green hydrogen partnership between Tunisia and Europe. The concerns raised by TNI and the Working Group for Energy Democracy in Tunisia highlight the need for a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of the Green Hydrogen Strategy on Tunisia and its people.
Tunisia’s Ambitious Green Hydrogen Plan: 15 Times the Current Energy Capacity Required
The Transnational Institute (TNI) highlights the significant energy requirements for Tunisia to achieve its goal of exporting six million tons of green hydrogen to Europe by 2050. To power the hydrogen extraction process from desalinated seawater, Tunisia would need to mobilize over 90GW of renewable energy, a staggering 15 times its current power capacity from all sources (renewable and non-renewable).
Land and Water Requirements for Renewable Energy Production
Meeting this renewable energy target would necessitate allocating over 500,000 hectares of land, approximately 3% of Tunisia’s total surface area, for renewable energy projects. Additionally, water desalination plants with a capacity of 160 million cubic meters per year would be required to provide the necessary desalinated water for hydrogen production. This is equivalent to the annual consumption of 400,000 Tunisians, a significant demand in a country facing recurrent droughts.
Limited Benefits for the Tunisian Economy
A study published by GIZ in 2021 reveals that Tunisia’s current industrial landscape is not equipped to benefit fully from green hydrogen in sectors like transportation and steel. The only identified benefit is the potential use of green hydrogen to produce certain derivatives that Tunisia currently imports.
TNI argues that the National Strategy primarily focuses on exporting raw materials to the EU, enabling European countries to achieve their carbon emission reduction targets. They emphasize the potential drawbacks for Tunisia, including resource exploitation and limited economic benefits.