North Macedonia adapting gas links with Serbia, Greece for hydrogen transport

North Macedonia's new gas interconnector with Greece has been designed to be fully compatible with hydrogen transportation.

According to Report's Balkan bureau, the project is detailed in North Macedonia's first National Hydrogen Study.

The study states that the country is preparing to strengthen its position in Europe's future hydrogen infrastructure. Developed with technical assistance from the European Union, the study was prepared by North Macedonia's Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources as part of the project to establish a gas interconnection with Serbia.

The study confirms that North Macedonia has realistic opportunities to gradually develop a hydrogen economy and become an active part of Europe's future hydrogen infrastructure.

According to the document, the country holds a strategically important geographical position alongside Serbia and Greece within the context of the Pan-European Hydrogen Network and the European Hydrogen Backbone. The network is intended to serve as Europe-wide infrastructure for the cross-border transport of clean hydrogen.

The study also emphasizes that the tender documents for selecting the designer and contractor for the planned gas interconnector with Serbia require the pipeline to be fully capable of transporting 100% hydrogen.

With the completion of the study, North Macedonia has become one of the few countries in the region to have a strategic document on hydrogen sector development. The document outlines several scenarios for hydrogen development through 2050, including the integration of renewable energy sources, the development of hydrogen corridors, the use of hydrogen in industry and transport, and the assessment of opportunities to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.