From Desertec to SunsHyne Corridor: five leading European gas transmission system operators (Snam, TAG, Eustream, NET4GAS, and OGE) has successfully completed a crucial feasibility study for the SunsHyne Corridor project, a 3,400-kilometre hydrogen pipeline linking hydrogen production hubs in North Africa to consumers in Central and Western Europe. 

Completed on August 12, 2025, the preliminary study focused on the technical and commercial assessment of the planned hydrogen corridor, which aims to connect hydrogen producers in North Africa with a projected import capacity of approximately 450 GWh to high-demand cities along the route. 

Along the SunsHyne Corridor route, the gap between estimated demand and domestic production is expected to be around 106 TWh in 2030 and 363 TWh in 2040. Such demand areas include Southern and Northeastern Germany, where demand is projected to exceed 100 TWh in 2030, far beyond the country’s domestic production potential. 

The SunsHyne Corridor project, expected to be operational in 2030, will include the construction of new hydrogen pipelines but about 85% will be repurposing of the pre-existing one for hydrogen transport. 

“The SunsHyne Corridor project is another step towards diversifying supply sources and strengthening the region’s energy security,” said Michal Slabý, CEO of NET4GAS.” This import route will complement other planned hydrogen transport corridors, all of which are integral parts of the European Hydrogen Backbone. The European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) initiative, consisting of 31 transmission system operators, is driven by the vision to connect regions through a series of hydrogen-dedicated infrastructure pipelines throughout Europe. This infrastructure, consisting of large parts of existing and newly built pipeline networks, will ensure access to hydrogen and provide the groundwork to accelerate the hydrogen market in Europe. In line with the tenets of the REPowerEU plan, the EHB has the potential to promote system resilience, energy independence, security of supply and create a low-carbon and renewable hydrogen market in Europe.

In May 2022, the EHB presented five large-scale pipeline corridors in Europe which are in line with the hydrogen supply targets set out in the EU Commission’s REPowerEU plan for 2030. Those five hydrogen corridors are North Africa and Southern Europe, Southwest Europe and North Africa, North Sea, Nordic and Baltic regions as well as Eastern and South-eastern Europe.

Photo: Courtesy of NET4GAS