French and Spanish energy operators are teaming up to build a major hydrogen pipeline that will help link Southern and Central Europe’s clean energy networks. The project—called Barmar—will run underwater between Barcelona and Marseille, forming a key part of the EU’s broader H2Med hydrogen corridor.
On Thursday, French gas grid operator Natran (a subsidiary of Engie), along with French storage company Terega and Spain’s Enagas, announced the creation of a joint venture to develop and operate the Barmar pipeline.
Key Details of the Barmar Hydrogen Pipeline:
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Route: Underwater connection from Barcelona (Spain) to Marseille (France)
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Project scope: Part of the €2.5 billion ($2.93 billion) H2Med corridor
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Timeline: Aimed for completion by 2030
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Hydrogen transport capacity: Up to 2 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually
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Joint venture shareholding:
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Enagas: 50%
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Natran: 33.3%
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Terega: 16.7%
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H2Med: A Pan-European Hydrogen Vision
Barmar is a critical component of H2Med, a massive clean energy project designed to connect Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany. Once operational, the corridor could supply around 10% of the EU’s projected hydrogen demand by 2030. The hydrogen will be produced using renewable electricity, supporting the EU’s goals to cut emissions and reduce natural gas dependency.
EU Funding and Future Milestones
The European Union recently approved funding to cover 50% of H2Med’s development costs, reflecting strong institutional support for hydrogen as a strategic decarbonization fuel.
Despite this progress, a final investment decision (FID) is not expected before 2028, according to Enagas CEO Arturo Gonzalo.
Strategic Importance
The France Spain hydrogen pipeline reflects the broader shift in Europe’s energy landscape. As hydrogen becomes central to the continent’s net-zero goals, cross-border infrastructure like Barmar will be essential to ensure energy resilience, market integration, and emissions reduction.