TE H2, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Groupe, along with Austria’s leading electricity company VERBUND, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Tunisia to explore the development of a significant green hydrogen project named “H2 Notos.” This project aims to export green hydrogen to Central Europe through pipelines.
The H2 Notos project plans to produce green hydrogen using electrolysers powered by large onshore wind and solar projects, supplied with desalinated sea water. In its initial phase, the project aims to produce 200,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, with the potential to scale up to one million tons per year in South Tunisia. The hydrogen will be transported to the European market via the “SoutH2 Corridor,” a pipeline connecting North Africa to Italy, Austria, and Germany, expected to be operational around 2030.
TE H2 and VERBUND will lead the development, financing, construction, and operation of the integrated project, covering green electricity production to green hydrogen production. VERBUND will also manage the transport of the produced hydrogen to Central Europe.
David Corchia, CEO of TE H2, emphasized the significance of this agreement: “The signing of this MoU with the Republic of Tunisia marks the actual start of this highly ambitious project after months of work and interactions with all stakeholders. Partnering with VERBUND, we aim to support the development of this pioneering endeavor in a strategic location. H2 Notos has the potential to become a significant supplier of green hydrogen for Europe while creating substantial jobs in Tunisia. We are now entering a phase of greenfield development and major technical work to assess the project’s feasibility and will deepen our collaboration with national and local authorities.”
Tunisia’s Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, stated: “This agreement with TE H2 and VERBUND marks a significant step forward in our quest for clean, sustainable energy. Tunisia, firmly committed to its energy transition, sees in this project a strategic pivot to attract foreign investment in renewable energies.”
Michael Strugl, CEO of VERBUND AG, highlighted Tunisia’s importance in the green hydrogen supply chain: “Tunisia is a particularly important upstream region in terms of scalability and competitiveness, and a significant part of VERBUND’s hydrogen plans. By combining competitive hydrogen production in Tunisia and pipeline-based transportation, we can ensure a long-term supply at scale, supporting a sustainable transition for our customers to green hydrogen and fostering sustainable economic development in Tunisia. We are delighted to be working with a strong consortium and look forward to collaborating closely with the Tunisian authorities and population.”
This partnership marks a crucial step in advancing green hydrogen production and reinforces Tunisia’s role in the global energy transition.
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