site.btaUS Agency Grant to Finance Feasibility Study of Hydrogen Pilot Project for Chiren Underground Gas Storage

Bulgartransgaz EAD Executive Director Vladimir Malinov conferred in Washington with Carl B. Kress, Regional Director for the programmes in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Eurasia of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Malinov's company said in a press release on Thursday.

Kress said that his Agency is launching an application process for a grant to finance a feasibility study for a hydrogen pilot project for the Chiren Underground Gas Storage (Northwestern Bulgaria). He specified that the study is eligible for a 100% grant award. A grant agreement will be signed after the USDA completes its project approval procedure.

"As a responsible gas transmission operator, Bulgartransgaz is already working on the hydrogen transmission infrastructure for the neighbouring countries and for adapting the existing gas transmission system to handle hydrogen gas mixtures. The implementation of this green hydrogen production and use project at Chiren, which is the first of its kind for Bulgaria, will reduce greenhouse gas transmissions and will contribute to meeting the decarbonization targets," Malinov told the USTDA officials.

He said that a project for hydrogen transmission infrastructure in Bulgaria, developed by Bulgartransgaz, is planned to consist of a new 250 km pipeline and two compressor stations in the area of Dupnitsa and Kulata (Southwestern Bulgaria). This new infrastructure will make it possible to transmit hydrogen between Bulgaria and Greece in both directions. The Bulgarian company is also exploring options to expand the future hydrogen network and ensure its connectivity with the Romanian network. "Bulgartransgaz's hydrogen transmission network will be key for the implementation of the green hydrogen transmission corridor from Southeastern to Central Europe, which is prioritized by the EU," the CEO added.