Initially unveiled in 2020 by 11 European gas infrastructure companies in the EU, the EHB details plans to create a dedicated hydrogen transport infrastructure on the continent. In 2021, the plans had expanded to cover almost 40,000km across 11 countries.

Read more: European Hydrogen Backbone: How a dedicated hydrogen infrastructure can be created

Read more: Plans for European Hydrogen Backbone expanded

The changes in the most recent iteration of the report prominently features a more ambitious scale of infrastructure and accelerated timeframe of developments.

EHB expects to see a more interconnected hydrogen transmission network develop across the north of Spain by 2030, including the existing liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal in Gijón.

Belgium’s 2040 vision was updated to reflect a “more paced” roll out of pipeline infrastructure. Additionally, in Slovakia, EHB has said the development of the East-West corridor from Ukraine to Czechia has been accelerated from 2040 to 2050.

Similarly, Hungary’s interconnection with Slovakia has also been sped up from 2040 to 2030, while its interconnection with Austria has been pushed back to 2040.

In January this year (2022), the EHB announced intentions to continually develop the project throughout the year, adding a further six members. At the time it said the imitative would make further progression with a focus on developing techno-economic assessments of hydrogen supply corridors.

Read more: European Hydrogen Backbone reveals 2022 agenda to accelerate developments of hydrogen infrastructure

Posting on social media, the European Hydrogen Backbone, commented, “The EHB hydrogen infrastructure vision will continue to evolve over time to stay on top of developments in this fast-changing energy landscape. EHB will be continuing to regularly update its hydrogen infrastructure maps.”