(Bilbao / Spain) – The energy company Iberdrola SA wants to build a large center for the production of green hydrogen at the Spanish chemical site of Palos de la Frontera in the Andalusian province of Huelva. For this purpose, an electrolyser will be installed in two phases, which can be used by fertilizer manufacturer Fertiberia in its plant, among others.
Andalusia, Spain. © Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Initially, an output of 200 megawatts (MW) with a production capacity of 23.000 tons per year is planned. The investments amount to 450 million euros. A 500 MW electrolyser with a production capacity of 370 tons will then be installed for a further 39.100 million euros. In order to guarantee the supply of electricity from renewable energies for green hydrogen certification, Iberdrola wants to use the output of its renewable energy power plants in Andalusia with an installed capacity of almost 1.000 megawatts. A “value chain of XNUMX% green hydrogen” will be created.
Hydrogen for industrial use
In addition to the goal of decarbonizing industry and heavy transport, the company will “enable the development and implementation of innovative solutions for various forms of land, rail and maritime transport using renewable hydrogen,” says Ibán Molina, director of green hydrogen. Located in the Nuevo Puerto industrial area, next to the external dock of the port of Huelva, the project will be “a major hub and gateway to Europe, where hydrogen and its derivatives are the key to the decarbonization of European industry and especially maritime transport.”
The “Puerta de Europa” is supported by more than 80 companies, the regional government of Andalusia, the municipalities of Huelva and Palos de la Frontera and the Port Authority of Huelva. Andalusia is “one of the most important growth centers” for Iberdrola. The company is represented in seven of the eight provinces with an installed wind power output of around 850 megawatts.
The company also has other power plants with almost 200 megawatts under construction, including the “Guillena” project, consisting of three photovoltaic plants (Poleo, Cornicabra and Espliego), in the Sevillian municipality of Castiblanco de los Arroyos and the Cespedera plant in Medina Sidonia (Cádiz). . In the coming years, Iberdrola wants to achieve an output of 3.000 megawatts with renewable energy power plants in Andalusia and invest around 1,5 billion euros.
Extremadura is also a hub for energy
Iberdrola also has a lot planned in the Extremadura region that borders Andalusia: The energy company wants to build a solar module factory there with a capacity of 1,6 gigawatts. This corresponds to the production of around three million modules, which corresponds to a third of the current demand in Spain, the company said. A “significant portion” of this should be installed in Extremadura, where major efforts are currently being made in solar power and hydrogen.
Extremadura, Spain. © Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
That's how she explained autonomous community in January they wanted to produce around 2030 percent of the green hydrogen produced in Spain by 20. For this purpose, electrolysers with a cumulative output of three gigawatts will be installed, said Guillermo Fernández Vara, President of the regional government. In this way, we will establish ourselves as “the main location for hydrogen production in the country,” as is already the case with photovoltaics.
In 2020, Iberdrolas commissioned the “Nunez de Balboa” photovoltaic power plant in Usagre (Extremadura) with an installed capacity of 500 megawatts. The system delivers more than 830 gigawatt hours per year. © Iberdrola SA
However, according to Iberdrola's assessment, the module factory requires “European financing to ensure competitiveness”. An application for funding was therefore submitted to the European Commission.
Iberdrola plans to invest more than four billion euros in innovation, development and research in Extremadura by 2030. According to its own information, the energy company currently has more than twenty renewable energy systems with an installed capacity of more than 4.000 megawatts. Of this, 2.000 megawatts are attributable to twelve solar power plants, including the 500 MW “Nunez de Balboa” photovoltaic system.
Photos
The Spanish energy company Iberdrola wants to build a green hydrogen production plant in Andalusia with an output of over 500 megawatts. © Iberdrola SA
