The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has granted a total of 200 million euros in aid to 37 green hydrogen projects, with the aim of promoting innovative and value chain-generating initiatives in the renewable hydrogen sector. Among the beneficiary companies are Repsol, Cepsa, Naturgy and Enagás. In addition, lines 3 and 4 of the same CoV program, which total 140 million euros, are expected to be resolved in the coming weeks.
Of the 37 projects, 19 have been submitted to the H2 Pioneers call for integrated initiatives for local hydrogen consumption in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, while another 18 projects have been submitted to calls 1 and 2 of the H2 Value Chain program, to improve capacity in testing and manufacturing facilities, and the design of hydrogen-powered vehicles, respectively.
The H2 Pioneers call, endowed with 150 million euros, will inject aid into commercially viable projects for the production and local consumption of renewable hydrogen in industry, heavy transport and other sectors that are difficult to decarbonize. The projects are located in nine autonomous communities in Spain, and five of them are located in areas of Just Transition and another five in areas of Demographic Challenge.
The projects are located in nine autonomous communities: Andalusia (6), Catalonia (3), Galicia (3), Asturias (2), Extremadura, Navarra, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha and Aragón. Five of the projects are located in areas of Just Transition -35% of the total subsidies- and the same number in areas of Demographic Challenge (20%).
The winning companies include Cepsa, EDP, Enagás, Hunosa, Naturgy, Repsol and RIC Energy. In the final resolution, the project of the green hydrogen plant of Naturgy, Repsol and Reganosa in Meirama (Galicia) has been included, which will receive 15 million Euros. A 10 million euro grant has also been awarded to the HydRIC Puertollano project, by Repsol and RIC Energy.
The Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) has announced the award of almost 50 million euros in grants for green hydrogen mobility projects. In total, grants have been awarded to 12 hydrogen mobility projects, with companies such as Nordex, Tecnalia, H2B2, Talgo, Renfe, Airbus, Acciona or Alstom among the beneficiaries.
The grants are part of the Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Recovery of Renewable Energies, Renewable Hydrogen and Storage (PERTE ERHA), which allocates more than 1.5 billion euros to boost green hydrogen. This investment is expected to attract a further €2.8 billion in private capital. The government’s target is to reach an electrolysis capacity of 300 MW to 600 MW by 2024 and 4 GW by 2030, 10% of the EU target.
Source: Energías Renovables (2023)