EU Approves List of Common Interest Energy Transportation Projects Including Three National Proposals

The electricity and hydrogen interconnections between Portugal and Spain, along with the creation of an internal hydrogen infrastructure in Portugal, are included in the first list approved by the European Union (EU) for Projects of Common Interest and Projects of Mutual Interest. The EU Delegated Regulation, approved on 8 April, lists dozens of projects assessed against various criteria, including sustainability, which are required to implement the European strategic geographical energy infrastructure priority corridors.

The electricity interconnection projects with Spain are fundamental for the energy transition that Portugal aims to achieve. Additionally, the industrial development of green hydrogen represents an important opportunity for the creation of skilled and sustainable jobs that could have significant added value for the Portuguese economy.

Regulation (EU) 2022/869 establishes a framework for the identification, planning, and implementation of Projects of Common Interest that are required to implement the EU's strategic geographical energy infrastructure priority corridors, as well as a framework for the identification, planning, and implementation of Projects of Mutual Interest developed by the Union together with third countries in the fields of electricity, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide transportation networks. All eligible projects proposed for inclusion in the Union list have been assessed against the sustainability criterion, mandatory for all project categories, among other more technical criteria.

The Portugal – Spain electricity interconnection between Ponte de Lima and Fontefría, respectively, including the new substation in Ponte de Lima, is on the approved list. This project, to be implemented by REN, will enable the increase of the interconnection capacity between Portugal and Spain, contributing to market integration and network safety, in line with the objectives established in the framework of the Iberian Electricity Market, as well as those of cross-border capacity defined at European level.

Within the scope of H2med, a green hydrogen corridor between Portugal and Central-Northern Europe, namely Germany, two other Projects of Common Interest with a national aspect emerge, to be developed by REN: the creation of an internal hydrogen infrastructure in Portugal, and a hydrogen interconnection between Portugal and Spain, specifically between Celorico da Beira and Zamora (Spain), commonly referred to as "CelZa". These two projects were presented in 2023, as part of the proposed Gas Transmission Network Development and Investment Plan for the 2024-2033 period. The projects contribute to establishing a more independent integrated European energy market and a competitive route for hydrogen, incorporating a new relevant energy vector for the decarbonisation and energy transition of Europe.