The ambitious rollout of a pan-European hydrogen pipeline network is expected to face delays of two to three years, the head of Spanish gas grid operator Enagas said Tuesday, potentially pushing back the continent's green energy transition goals.

Arturo Gonzalo, CEO of Enagas, a leading proponent of the burgeoning green hydrogen industry, indicated that while Spain's domestic hydrogen infrastructure remains on track for completion by 2030, the broader European integration would likely be slower than initially projected.

"Are there delays in Europe? I would say delays of a very limited scope," Gonzalo said, acknowledging that various member states are now targeting launch dates for their hydrogen infrastructures between 2030 and 2032. 

This timeline falls beyond the initial 2030 operational target for H2Med, a key trans-European corridor designed to link the Iberian Peninsula with northwestern Europe.

Enagas has committed more than 4 billion euros in investments by the end of the decade, primarily to diversify into managing hydrogen infrastructure. The company's plans include constructing a 2,600-kilometer (1,615-mile) hydrogen network within Spain, which is intended to connect to the planned H2Med pipeline.

Despite the European-level delays, Gonzalo expressed confidence in Spain's ability to meet its internal deadlines for hydrogen network development. 

The slight shift in the broader European timeline underscores the complexities of coordinating large-scale infrastructure projects across multiple nations as the continent vies to establish a robust green hydrogen economy.